NAPTIP Nabs Woman For Maltreating 10 year Old
By Prosper Okoye
National Agency for the prohibition of Trafficking in Persons(NAPTIP) today, arrested one Mrs. Chioma Johnson, for the violence metted on a boy of 10years old.
The boy is said to be the child of her husband’s brother, that was taken from his village in the Eastern part of Nigeria, to assist her, in her abroad residence, located, off Zakibiam street, Makurdi, Benue state.
In an interview with the reporter, a source, who pleads to remain anonymous, revealed that she had to take the matter to NAPTIP, to save the little child’s life.
“I have watched this boy been maltreated for almost 3 years now, and yesterday while carrying out the usual torture on the child, the foster mother had threatened to kill him, because he has nobody that could challenge her.” The source said.
Mrs.Chioma who is a private school teacher, has refused to enroll the 10 years old boy in a school.
“When she and her four children leaves for school, only this boy will be locked up in the house.
He stands at the window and cries, and begs anyone he sees for food and water to drink.”
The source further disclosed that the boy has faced alot of maltreatment, including starvation.
The little boy is said to have been recently starved from morning till evening, then he had to go the pot of soup, and took a scoop in other to assuage his hunger, when the foster mother came back he descended on him.
“The little child only eats remnants after she and her children has finished eating, and if the boy touches any food, he is beaten like a thief.
” The wound on his buttocks and on his head is as a result of the hot liquid leather she melted and poured on him.
She uses hot knife to burn his skin. She uses anything she finds around her to hit the child.”
Mrs. Chioma denied Maltreating the child when asked by the reporter. “The boy is sick, look at the trouser he defecated in.”She stated, pointing at a basin that had clothes soaked in water.
Meanwhile, the source also revealed that the child had been instructed not use the toilet in their self contained room.
However, the foster father who is an electrician, was not at home during the time she was arrested, but he was called on his telephone to come to the NAPTIP Makurdi office.
NAPTIP state Commandant, Mrs Gloria Bai, confirmed that the child is been Maltreated, she assured that the case will be dully prosecuted.
