The police in Lagos have arrested a 39-year-old trader,Chinwe Abasi, for allegedly brutalising a 12-year-old boy, Chinedu Okorie, withhot water in the Apapa area of the state.
A Punch correspondent learnt that Abasi, a mother of two,who hails from Nnewi, Anambra State, allegedly poured hot water on the boybecause he collected N100 from a neighbour to buy a pair of socks to wear to schoolwithout the woman’s knowledge.
It was learnt that Okorie, who is in Junior Secondary School1, also worked as a sales assistant for Abasi, who sold cloth materials in theOyingbo Market.
It was gathered that last Monday when schools resumed, Okorietold Abasi that he would need to buy a pair of socks for school. Punchcorrespondent learnt that the trader allegedly ignored the boy until Thursdaywhen a neighbour, identified only as Usman, gave Okorie N100 to buy the pair ofsocks.
It was gathered that when Abasi learnt that the boy hadcollected money from Usman to buy the pair of socks, she became angry and beatup the boy.
The 12-year-old was said to have ran to the kitchen duringthe flogging. Abasi allegedly grabbed an electric kettle of boiling water andemptied it on the boy.
The matter was reported at the FESTAC Police Division andthe trader was arrested.
It was gathered that the matter was also reported to theLagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team, and a temporary shelterwas provided for the boy, where he also received medical attention.
Speaking with Punch Metro, Okorie, who hails from EnuguState, said he was forced to collect the N100 from Usman because he had noother option.
He said, “I told madam (Abasi) last Monday that I needed tobuy a pair of socks for school. My teachers would seize my sandals without it.But she did not buy them, and I went to collect money from our neighbour.
“When she saw the pair of socks, she became angry andstarted to beat me. I ran into the kitchen. That was where she grabbed theelectric kettle and poured the content ─ hot water ─ on me. It was around 7pmon Thursday.”
The trader, however, told Punch Metro that she did notdeliberately brutalise the boy, adding that everyone knew she treated Okorielike her son.
She said, “On Monday, pupils resumed school, and Chinedu(Okorie) told me he needed a pair of socks and I said I would buy them for him.Unfortunately, when I came back, I forgot. Later, our neighbour said Chineducollected N100 from him to buy the pair of socks. I was angry.
“I queried him and warned him against the behaviour. OnThursday, I gave him N100 to buy another pair of socks. When he came back, hetold me he used the money for something else. So, I beat him up.
“There were times when I gave him N1,000 to go and buy fuel.He would spend three hours and later say he misplaced the money. So, Idisciplined him on Thursday.
“He ran into the kitchen, and that was when I mistakenlypoured the water on him.
“I sell clothes at the Oyingbo Market. He is my domestichelp. I brought him from his village in Enugu State about four years ago. Theboy is stubborn. I am not a bad woman.”
The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, SP DolapoBadmos, confirmed the arrest, adding that the suspect would be charged tocourt.
She said, “The suspect has been arrested, and she will becharged to court.”
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January 20, 2016
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