A mother, 34, has been arrested for allegedly inflicting her daughter,13 with razor blade cuts in Bayelsa State.
Bayelsa State Police Command said it arrested Priye Richman for inflicting life-threatening razor blade injuries on Ebimi Tokoye, for alleged theft of N1500.
She was arrested by the Ekeki division of the Command.
The suspect, a major distributor of locally made bread, popularly known as Madiga, was reported to have tied her daughter with a rope before inflicting her body with a razor blade at their residence on the School Road Okutukutu area of Yenagoa Local Government Area.
It was gathered that doctors who operated on her at the Police Hospital, behind the ‘A’ Divisional station, disclosed that the child was brought in by members of Girl Child Advocacy Groups made up of the Do Foundation, Izon Ladies Association (ILA), and Gender Response Initiative Team (GRIT).
Sources said the multiple lacerations on her body; buttocks and shoulder required over 15 stitches carried out on her.
The victim disclosed that after inflicting the injuries on her, her mother rubbed pepper and kerosene on her body.
She told the police: “My mother came back from Church around 12 noon on Sunday and accused me of stealing her N1,500. I denied the allegation because I didn’t see or steal the money. She started beating me and tied me with rope. She started slashing all my body with a razor blade. She later rubbed pepper and kerosene on the injuries.
“A neighbour burst the door and rescued me. The incident lasted for over two hours. The concerned neighbour later called members of the Girl Child Advocacy Groups who took charge and arrested my mother who they handed over to the Police.”
The President of the Do Foundation, Dise Sheila Ogbise, condemned the rising cases of domestic violence against children.
” We condemn these rising cases and call on the members of JUSUN to quickly call off their strike action to allow the quick prosecution of this case to deter others from engaging in the wicked acts of violence against their children.”
Also reacting, President of the Izon Ladies Association, Yenagoa Branch, Chief Efua Grace Koroye, described the incident as pathetic and an act of wickedness against the girl-child.
” We support the rescue of the girl and condemn the attack on the girl child. We call for the quick resolution of the case.”
Bayelsa State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Mr. Asinim Butswat, said the suspect was is in police custody and investigation was ongoing.
