A mother, Mary Omifunto, has allegedly poured hot water on her 14-year-old daughter, Oladiran Kaosarat, for refusing to hawk on the streets.
First News gathered that Kaosarat, who is a Primary 5 pupil at Wesley Primary School, Oshodi, Lagos, was instructed by her mother to hawk very early in the morning, instead of going to school. But she turned down the errand.
Her refusal angered her mother who allegedly poured her hot water.
A resident of the area, Mutiu, who confirmed the woman’s arrest by the police at Akinpelu Division, said the incident took place in the kitchen while the woman was preparing food.
“It was out of annoyance that woman pour the hot water on the girl. She could have managed the situation better. I learnt the woman was in the kitchen cooking when she picked anger with the teenager who had refused to hawk. It was out of anger that she poured her a hot water,” he said.
The victim, Kaosarat, while narrating the incident said, “I was asked to come and hawk rice in the morning. So, I quickly went inside to change my cloth. When I came back to the kitchen, she started beating me that I didn’t come back on time. While I was trying to run away from her to avoid further beating, she poured me the hot water that was on the fire.”
A source, who didn’t want his name mentioned, said police officers in charge of the case were trying to shield the perpetrator who should be made to face the law for her misdeed.
He said, “The case is presently with the Human Rights units. The perpetrator is currently in the custody of Akinpelu police station, Oshodi .
“The IPO is Inspector Victoria. There’s a lot of foot dragging on this case. The Oshodi-Isolo Local Government Education Authority Guidance and Counselling reported the case to Akinpelu police station; also the School Social Worker is also involved.
“Initially, the IPO claimed the Survivors mother has been transferred to the Gender Unit of the State Command Ikeja some days ago only for the IPO inspector Victoria to call the G&C Unit that the woman is still at Akipenlu police station.”
It was also gathered that the suspect has been moved to the gender unit of the Lagos police command, Ikeja.
Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Muyiwa Adejobi, said the perpetrator would face the law after proper investigation on the matter.