A shocking case of child abuse has emerged in Lagos, sparking widespread condemnation and prompting swift action from both human rights advocates and the Nigeria Police Force.
The incident took place on Thursday night at No. 11 Oshimyemi Street in Ogba, Lagos, where a woman identified as Chinwendu Onyeneho allegedly inflicted severe burns on her seven-year-old daughter using a hot electric iron. The assault was reportedly carried out as punishment for the child’s alleged theft of meat from a cooking pot.
Eyewitnesses told SaharaReporters that the unfortunate event unfolded after the mother instructed the child to serve meat to her younger brother. Upon discovering that the girl had eaten a portion of the meat, Onyeneho was said to have reacted violently.
“The woman told her daughter to serve meat to her younger brother, but when she noticed the girl had eaten some of it, she became furious. She plugged in an electric iron and pressed it on the girl’s body, causing those terrible burns,” a neighbour recounted.
Disturbed by the brutal punishment, the neighbour confronted Onyeneho immediately after the incident.
“I approached her and told her that what she did was excessive — how could she burn a child just because she ate meat from the pot? But the mother dismissed me, saying it was none of my business and that I should do my worst,” the neighbour added.
Following the incident, the Take-It-Back Movement — a well-known human rights organisation — intervened by notifying the Area G Command of the Nigeria Police in Lagos. The police subsequently invited the neighbour to lodge a formal complaint.
Speaking to SaharaReporters on Friday morning, the Area G Commander, ACP Faniyi Abayomi, confirmed that the case was already being handled.
“We have received the report, and the neighbour is currently with us making a formal statement. The appropriate department in charge of juvenile cases is handling the investigation,” he stated.
Efforts to reach the accused, Chinwendu Onyeneho, for her response proved unsuccessful, as calls placed to her phone on Friday morning went unanswered.
The full extent of the child’s injuries remains unclear at this time. However, photos and videos obtained by SaharaReporters show disturbing burn marks on the girl’s arms and back, underscoring the severity of the abuse.
