Housewife Burns Child’s Buttocks with Red-hot Knife over Theft of Chewing-Gum

Azeez Folorunso/

A housewife is facing jail in Lagos for allegedly using red-hot knife to harm a 7-year-old child accused of stealing a neighbor’s chewing gum.

The 25-year-old housewife, Loveth Ozoihu, allegedly beat her niece and caused bodily injury to her, using red-hot knife.

Mrs Ozoihu who lives on Josiah Aina Street, Alakuko area of Lagos, was charged with assault occasioning harm and arraigned before an Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court, in Ogba, on Tuesday.

According to the Police Prosecutor, Insp. Benson Emuerhi, after beating the child to a pulp, the defendant then burnt her with a red-hot knife which she brought out from a cooking gas.

Emuerhi told the Court that the defendant committed the offence at her residence on February 2.

“The defendant was, however, arrested by the Police at Alakuko Division following a tip-off from a neighbour, one Nmasi Okwudili (the complainant) that they should rescue the victim who was being abused by her aunt.

Emuerhi alleged that the defendant beat the victim and used a red hot knife to burn her buttocks for stealing chewing gum.

“Ozoihu assaulted her niece causing her grievous bodily harm,” he said

Emuerhi noted that the defendant was fond of maltreating the victim.

The defendant had earlier used a cane and wire to beat the victim for taking fish from the stock she sells and eat it without her knowledge.

The offence contravenes Section 173 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015, and it violates Section 173 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State.

The accused, however, denied committing the offence, as the Chief Magistrate, Mrs Olufunke Sule Amzat, granted her a N200, 000 bail.

Sule-Amzat, also ordered the defendant to provide two responsible sureties as part of the bail conditions.

She said that the sureties must be gainfully employed and show evidence of tax payments to the Lagos State Government (LASG).

Sule-Amzat adjourned the case until March 7 for trial.

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