Operatives of the Bayelsa State Police Command have arrested a 39-year-old woman identified as Esther Otoniye at Akenfa community, Yenagoa, for allegedly using a hot knife to burn the buttocks of her 10-year-old step-daughter.
It was gathered that Otoniye’s arrest was ordered by the State Commissioner of Police, after complaints by various Women and child rights groups including the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) and the Gender Response Team Initiatives (GRIT).
Residents of the community said the woman, who reportedly accused the girl of lying against her, placed a knife on the fire and used it to burn the victim’s buttocks, while her father was in the bathroom.
Otoniye denied the allegation, saying hot water accidentally poured on the girl’s buttocks in the kitchen.
However, child right activists, who went to rescue the child, observed that the body of the primary 3 pupil was filled with scars suspected to have come from severe and repeated flogging.
Chairman of the Bayelsa State Gender Response Initiative Team, Dise Ogbise, expressed concern over the rising cases of violence against the girl-child in the state.
He said, “We don’t know when issues of domestic violence will come to an end in our region. It’s even sad to note that we have more cases of physical violence on children being perpetrated by women. The law is no respecter of persons and we are calling on the Bayelsa State Police Command to quickly investigate this case and charge the suspect to court.”
Police spokesman in Bayelsa State, SP Asinim Butswat, who confirmed the incident, said the case had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department for further investigations.
He said the knife allegedly used in committing the crime had been recovered. (Daily Trust)
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