The Kogi State government has ordered the arrest and prosecution of a woman, Elizabeth Abu, for allegedly burning her step son with hot electric iron.
It was reported that Elizabeth Abu used a hot iron on her step son David Mathew Ewongolu for using part of her cloth to make a duster.
The Kogi State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development Hajia Fatima Kabir Buba said after a thorough interrogation by her ministry, the suspect confessed to the crime, saying “she did not intend to inflict such pain on the boy”.
She added that the boy is currently receiving treatment at the Kogi State Specialist Hospital Lokoja.
Buba said: “The Ministry of Women Affairs will continue to collaborate with the Nigeria Police, alongside its legal team, to get justice for the abused victim. This is pure wickedness. How can a woman burn her fellow human being with hot electric iron?
Even though the boy is not her biological son, that does not give her that right to display such wickedness on the boy. We will follow this case to a logical conclusion and ensure we will get justice for young David Mathew Ewongolu in the court of law. The law of the land must take its course.”
The Commissioner assured that Governor Yahaya Bello-led administration had zero tolerance for child abuse, stressing that guardians and parents must take great care in raising their children to become responsible citizens in society.
Child maltreatment is the abuse and neglect that occurs to children under 18 years of age. It includes all types of physical and/or emotional ill-treatment, sexual abuse, neglect, negligence and commercial or other exploitation, which results in actual or potential harm to the child’s health, survival, development or dignity in the context of a relationship of responsibility, trust or power.
Child maltreatment causes suffering to children and families and can have long-term consequences. Maltreatment causes stress that is associated with disruption in early brain development. Extreme stress can impair the development of the nervous and immune systems.
