Parents whose daughter was burnt with hot iron, seek justice

The mother of nine-year-old Favour Azubuike, who was allegedly burnt with a hot iron on April 9, in Biacasa, Abuja, has complained over the handling of the case and the release of the suspect by the police.
The Imo-based woman said her pastor’s wife, Mrs. Oluchi Okoro had introduced the woman, simply known as Nancy, to her as a lady looking for a child to live with, not knowing she was giving her child to a molester.

She said: “My daughter is currently with the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP). The agency took her away after she was inflicted with injury by her guardian.
“When the woman came to Imo State, she told us that she was looking for a girl that would stay with her. I gave out my child to her with all my heart. She left with my daughter and started maltreating her, to the extent that she used a hot iron to burn her buttock. NAPTIP learnt about what happened and took my child from her.
“ My pastor’s wife, Mrs. Oluchi Okoro, introduced her to me as a good person who is not violent.
The victim’s father, Nwoka Azubuike said they learnt that their daughter was not the first child to be maltreated by the woman.

“We were told that she put pepper in the anus of the last girl, who stayed with her before she came for my daughter.

“She had severally flogged my daughter with a knife and left her with marks. So, we want justice, for this to be her last in maltreating children.”
The wife of the pastor, Mrs. Okoro confirmed to The Guardian that she actually introduced the lady to the family of Azubuike.
She said: “I’ve known Nancy for nine years. She was single when we became friends. She is not a bad person, I never knew her to be a bad person.
“I wanted to give her my child initially, but my husband never liked the idea of his child going out to stay with someone. That is why I introduced her to Precious’ mother who is also my neighbour.  I know her too well, she is not a violent person and I was surprised about what happened.”
Contacted, the Federal Capital Territory Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Josephine Adeh, said she was not aware of the event,  but promised to investigate. (The Guardian)