The police in Lagos have arrested a 36-year-old woman, Nkeiruka Ngwu, for allegedly using hot pressing iron and hot water to inflict injuries on her housemaid, one Chioma Samuel.
Lagos police spokesman, Chike Oti, told newsmen on Sunday in Lagos that the mother of four sought to hide the crime by dressing-up the maid to cover the wounds.
He described the incident as another case of man’s inhumanity to man, adding that the girl was assaulted last Wednesday at 47, Ogundana Street, off Allen Avenue, Ikeja, Lagos.
The police spokesman said the 10-year-old housemaid was mentally and physically abused by the suspect who used hot iron to cause grievous injury on the victim’s hands and legs.
According to Oti, the suspect also poured hot water on the maid which scalded her skin.
“On Thursday March 8, the woman’s crime against the girl was exposed when she brought her children to a private school located somewhere in Ikeja alongside the maid.
“Unfortunately for her, other mothers who came to the same school to drop off their kids noticed the gaping wounds on the upper and lower limbs of the victim who accompanied the suspect to the school.
“After questioning the girl, they waited for her madam who had gone to drop her kids in their different classrooms. When she finished and was about to drive off, she was confronted by these women who nearly mobbed her.
“They were calmed by some teachers who heard their piercing voices which rented the air. The women told the suspect to take the girl to a hospital or else they would petition the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State.
“In spite of their warnings to report her to the authorities, the woman stubbornly came to the school on Friday March 9, accompanied by the child victim whose wounds were manifestly untreated.
“On seeing that their warnings were taken for granted, the women made good their promise to call the attention of the commissioner of police, who immediately ordered the arrest of the woman,” he said.
Oti said that investigation into the case was in progress, stressing that the woman would be charged to court on Monday.
