A young couple in the Igando area of Lagos, is now in regret after their alleged maltreatment of an adopted daughter resulted in end to her life
The couple Paul Onyeama and Adline Ogbonna, who live on Jemesi Papa Street have a history of maltreating the vulnerable girl, usually sending her on strenuous errands, residents say.
Before her tragic end Sunday, the girl Faith had been ill for two weeks, but that did not deter the couple from the constant abuse.
They still subjected her to the same severe maltreatment until she gave us the ghost.
A resident whom Punch identified as Adekunle Taofeek narrated the incident thus:
“The couple had adopted a 10-year-old girl. They had been consistently maltreating and assaulting the child, while also sending her on unnecessary errands.
“I was informed that the girl had been sick for about two weeks, yet the abuse continued. Yesterday, both the husband and wife allegedly beat the child severely despite her condition, and sadly, she died.”
It was gathered that the suspects later rushed the victim to a hospital, where she was confirmed dead on arrival.
Angered by the development, youths in the area who learnt of the incident apprehended the woman.
Another resident, who requested anonymity for personal reasons, told our correspondent that the husband, who had allegedly left home earlier to procure a tricycle to dispose of the girl’s corpse, was also held by the youths.
“The moment the girl died, they kept her corpse in the room and acted as though nothing had happened. The wife even came out this morning to cook in the kitchen like nothing had happened.
“It was residents who had been observing what was going on that raised the alarm about the whereabouts of the girl before they discovered that she had died. If they had succeeded in disposing of the body, no one would have known her whereabouts,” the resident said.
He added that the matter was promptly reported at the Igando Police Division.
Police operatives were thereafter deployed to the scene, leading to the arrest of the couple and the recovery of the child’s body.
A police source said that the suspects, during interrogation, claimed the girl was sick and died while receiving treatment at a hospital.
“Our preliminary findings revealed that the child was already dead before she was brought to the medical facility. The case will be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, for further investigation,” the source said.
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Speaking further on the incident, Taofeek, who is the state coordinator of the Take It Back Movement, said the medical facility where Faith was taken confirmed that she was brought in dead.
“While I was questioning the suspect, he claimed the girl was sick, that they rushed her to the hospital, and that she died while receiving treatment. I then asked which hospital was involved.
“Unfortunately for him, the doctor there is known to me and also my personal physician. I called the doctor to verify the claim, and he confirmed that a child was brought to the hospital, but she was already dead on arrival,” he added.
Cami Ezenwa is a Writer, Editor, Publicist, Biographer and Journalism Trainer
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