A 12 year-old girl has been physically abused by her aunt in Ibadan, Oyo state capital.
The incident which occured at idi ishin area of ibadan, drew tears from the faces of people that saw the injury inflicted on the minor including the commissioner for women affairs Mrs Toyin Balogun.
Idi ishin is one of the eyebrow areas in Ibadan as it accommodates mostly the elites.
This peradventure made one to wonder why and how such an incident could have happened within such community.
The victim( name withheld)was said to have moved in with her father’s younger sister, Mrs Rebecca Omolade, a security personnel with the federal government in August 2023 after the demise of her dad.
The minor, a native of Ayetoro, Ogun state, alleged that she had never had a good time with the woman.
She explained that aside being responsible for the house chores, incessant beatings were her daily dose.
“Though she gives me food but the beating is too much, she uses broom, turning stick( omorogun )and anything within her reach to beat me. I cannot complain to anyone as I am the last born of my poor parents and my mother is wallowing in abject poverty to cater for my four brothers and sisters….”
Narrating the incident, the JSS2 student in one of the government owned secondary schools in ibadan, said her aunt, Mrs omolade poured hot water on her twice for failure to inform her that the water was ready to make yam powder, popularly called Amala.
” On that day she was making hair for our neighbour, she had earlier directed me to put water on the fire. When the water was ready I went to inform her, but she was so engrossed in her discussion with the neighbor . I informed her twice that the water was ready to make amala, she did not answer me, I could not make amala , suddenly she remembered and started raining abuses on me. When she got to the kitchen, she was so furious, switched off the cooker, then took hot water from the pot and poured it on me. As I was about to escape, she took another one, poured it on my back and leg and my skin peeled immediately….”
Reacting, the aunt, Mrs Rebecca Omolade, claimed not to understand what came over her to have perpetrated such an act.
” I don’t know what came over me. When I got to the kitchen and saw that the water was ready without her informing me, I got angry and poured the water on her just to punish her, I did not know that the hot water touched her body. I do take care of her. I give her three square meals and also buy beverages for her. Please forgive me….”
Explaining the other dried wounds on the girl’s body , Mrs Omolade said her niece was very stubborn and was never ready to take to correction.
” She is possessed with a demonic spirit, she sometimes go to other people’s compound to pluck mangoes to eat, i have been trying my best….”
Radio Nigeria however handed over the girl to the Oyo State Ministry of Women Affairs for further action.
While receiving the girl, the commissioner for women affairs, Mrs Toyin Balogun condemned the act and ordered immediate prosecution of the woman by the Nigeria security and civil defence corps.
She also directed that the victim should immediately be taken back to her mother in Ayetoro, Ogun state.
ABISOLA OLUREMI
