The Lagos
State Police Command has arrested two women – one Amadi and Mama Esther – for
allegedly abusing a nine-year-old girl, Joy Esemonu, in the FESTAC Town
area of
the state.
PUNCH Metro
gathered that Amadi allegedly poured chemical on Esemonu, which made her
sustain injuries in different parts of her body.
Our
correspondent was told that Esemonu was subsequently led everyday by the
suspect to a pedestrian bridge in the FESTAC area where she was made to beg for
alms from passersby.
At the end of
every begging trip, the two women reportedly shared the money collected.
However, a
Good Samaritan, who observed the victim’s condition on the bridge, reportedly
alerted policemen from the FESTAC division, leading to the arrest of the two
women.
The matter was
subsequently referred to the Office of the Public Defender, which transferred
the victim to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Traffic in Persons and
other related matters.
A social
worker who was privy to the case told our correspondent that Mama Esther was a
relation of the victim and had lured her from their village in Port Harcourt,
Rivers State.
He said,
“The girl
lived in Port Harcourt with her parents. But last year, her mother handed her
over to Mama Esther after the latter promised to support the family by taking
the girl to Lagos. She said the girl would continue her education when they get
to Lagos.
“However, when
she brought her to Lagos, she decided to hand her over to Amadi, who she owed
some money. The woman then decided to use her for begging.
“The girl said
she noticed that Amadi would make her sleep before pouring a substance
suspected to be chemical on her body. By the time she woke up and scratched the
spots after feeling some pains, they would become sore. The woman would then
bandaged the place and take her out for begging.
“She said
whenever the injuries heal, she would make her sleep again and pour the
chemical on her. The woman started with her bottoms and then her laps. She said
such had happened about four different times.”
Another source
said Mama Esther, in her confession, claimed that she always collected between
N2,500 to N3,000 as her share every day.
The source
said the money the women were making off the victim kept them in the fraudulent
business.
“The girl said
although they lived in a slum in the Oyingbo area, the woman always took her to
FESTAC to beg. She said there were other girls in the slum. She could not
recall the exact place where her parents lived in Port Harcourt.
“She mentioned
streets like Rumuokoro, Saint Jude and Rumola. She said she attended Saint Jude
Academy and was in basic three before she was brought to Lagos. The girl
explained that her younger sister, Ebierechi, was with another family. However,
the suspect had maintained that they lived under the bridge,” he added.
The Director
of OPD, Mrs. Salami Olubukola, condemned the action of the women, saying the
state would ensure that justice was served.
She said,
“This is a
despicable act and the height of man’s inhumanity to man which must be
condemned by all. Lagos State will never condone child abuse and cruelty and we
shall go to any length to protect our children from barbaric acts.”
The Police
Public Relations Officer, SP Dolapo Badmos, said, “Investigation reveals that
it is their stock in trade.”
The NAPTIP
Lagos zonal coordinator, Mr. Joseph Famakin, confirmed that the victim was in
the agency’s shelter.
He said,
“The girl was
brought to us last Friday and she is going through some psychological
counseling and treatment. We are also investigating if there are other people
involved in the crime. The two suspects are with the police.”
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