A
38-year-old trader, Mrs. Caroline Akanwa, has been arrested by the Area C
Police Command, Lagos State, for allegedly battering her niece, Chioma Uneneme.
We learnt that Akanwa had in 2015 brought the 10-year-old from Okofia,
Anambra State, to the Iponri Police Barracks, where she lived with her police
husband and two children.
The
victim was said to have assisted with the house chores, as well as the
management of Akanwa’s recharge cards business.
Our correspondent was told that the suspect, however, always flogged Uneneme for
every offence till her back was marred with sores. On one of such occasions,
the victim was said to have been battered for allegedly selling a recharge card
of N1,000 for N970.
Uneneme’s
teacher at St. Paul Primary School, Iponri, who discovered the scars,
reportedly took her to a hospital for treatment. The hospital management,
however, insisted on a police extract before going ahead with the treatment.
The
school was said to have written a petition to the Lagos State Office of the
Public Defender on the matter. Officials of the OPD and policewomen from the
Area C Police Command were said to have gone to the barracks to arrest Akanwa.
In
her statement at the OPD, the suspect allegedly confessed to the crime, saying
she never meant to inflict injuries on her niece.
She
said, “Chioma (Uneneme) is my niece. I brought her to Lagos last year and she
has been staying with me. I never intended to inflict injuries on her.
“Some
time ago, a customer came to buy a N1,000 recharge card. She sold it for N970
after the person said he did not have the balance. I spanked her for it.
“The
latest happened on June 7. My husband and I were not in the house. Somebody
came and said my husband’s car was blocking his and he could not move out.
“She
gave the person my husband’s car key and the man bashed my husband’s car while
trying to move it. When I returned and saw what had happened, I beat her. Aside
these, she steals from me. I beat her like I beat my children.”
The
Director of the OPD, Mrs. Omotola Rotimi, told us that the case was
reported by the management of St. Paul Primary School, Iponri.
Rotimi,
who spoke through the Public Relations Officer of the agency, Adeoba
Adeniji-Adele, said the victim’s class teacher discovered the scars on her back
and took her to the hospital.
She
said, “But the hospital management asked for a police extract. The school then
decided to write a petition to us. We immediately waded in and reported at the
Area C Police Command. Some of our officials and the police went to the
barracks to get her arrested.
“The
initial scars she got from the beating had not healed, yet she decided to
inflict more injuries on her. She used her hand, cane, stick and other objects
to beat her. People must learn to control their anger.
“We
have taken custody of the child and she is now in one of our transit homes.
“The
suspect has two children, including a baby of about six months.”
Source: The Punch
A 38-year-old trader, Mrs. Caroline Akanwa, has been arrested by the Area C Police Command, Lagos State, for allegedly battering her niece, Chioma Uneneme.
Source: The Punch
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