A teenage girl,
identified as Onyeka John, has regained freedom after she was allegedly chained
by her mother to the burglary-proof bars for about one month.
The girl lived with
her parents in a rented apartment on Serebe Street, Abaranje, in the Ikotun
area of Lagos State. They reportedly tied her up by the neck and legs for
habitually running away from home, which they ascribed to mental illness.
PUNCH Metro reports
that the parents had gone out on Wednesday and locked up the girl as usual.
On that day, the
landlord, Mr. Oladapo Olubajo, was said to have gone to the backyard, where the
family’s apartment is located, to check a pumping machine when he saw the girl.
The landlord alerted
a resident, who reported the case to the police at the Ikotun division. The
resident, who begged not to be named, said the girl’s parents eventually showed
up at the police station and made statements. He said:
“The parents locked
the girl up. She is about 14 years old. She was chained naked to the burglary
inside the room by the neck and legs. Policemen
came to rescue the girl. Her parents later turned themselves in at the station.
They said the girl had been a disgrace to the family.”
The landlord,
Olubajo, told Punch that he wanted to take up the matter with the parents, but
some residents prevailed on him not to. He explained that he met the girl naked
in the apartment, adding that the condition she was could frustrate her to
commit suicide.
Olubajo said:
“When I saw her
chained to the burglar-proof bar, I raised the alarm. The police later got the
parents to the station and interrogated them. “The girl said she had been there
for almost one month. Her parents moved here a year ago. I have noticed that their
behaviour was odd. but I didn’t know they could go to the extent of chaining
their daughter.
“People begged me
and the police eventually released the girl to them yesterday (Wednesday). The
conclusion we reached is that I want them out of my house. They also claimed
the girl is mentally ill. Even if she is mentally challenged, was that the
right way to go about it? She could have killed herself.”
Onyeka’s father, who
spoke with PUNCH Metro on the telephone on Thursday, said he and his wife meant
no harm for the girl.
She always runs away
from home. That was why we chained her. I think she is mentally ill. We planned
to take her to a hospital this month. As I speak now, she has fled home again.”
The Lagos State
Police Public Relations Officer, SP Dolapo Badmos, said the case was under
investigation.
“The lady is
suffering from mental illness. Her parents chained her to prevent her from
entering the street, and without intention to harm her,” she added.
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