This is the ordeal of a Lagos teenage canteen worker: on her boss’ alleged instruction, she was poured hot oil, left scalded, her injuries became septic, she was denied justice by police, bed-ridden, abandoned in hospital; due to lack of funds, she was moved out of the hospital and relocated to her village, where she’s now writhing in pains and pining away by the day. Welcome to the harrowing world of 17-year-old Bola Olayeni.
Life will definitely not be the same again for Olayeni after she was bathed with sizzling hot oil by her colleague, one Islamiyah, on the instruction of their boss, simply identified as Eleha.
Burdened by a lame mother, Bola who was eager to engage in any legitimate work that would bring food to her family’s table and help them to eke out a living, opted to work as a waiter in a canteen in Lagos.
Like every other teenager, Bola would have loved to go to school, but the health challenge which has incapacitated her mother made it impossible for her to realise her dream of getting educated to her desired level.
But unfortunately in her quest to make life better for herself and her mother, she was served the other side of life when a cauldron of sizzling cooking oil was poured on her by her colleague, who was allegedly sent by their boss, Eleha.
The ominous sign of the tragedy waiting to befall Bola later that day first reared its head early that morning when another colleague of hers, Dupe, who she had a misunderstanding with, was allegedly instructed by Eleha, their boss, to bathe her with hot water.
It was learnt that Eleha had vowed to teach Bola some lessons over some alleged infractions she had earlier committed in the course of working with her in her canteen. Eleha’s threats were allegedly eventually carried out, leaving Bola with nursing the injuries resulting from the incident.
Efforts made to get justice for Bola through legal means failed as the police only invited Eleha, who had allegedly boasted that no one could punish for the alleged crime, but released her same day.
She has since been going her normal business while Bola, just like her mother that she had been eager to take care of, is now incapacitated and her case is even getting worse as her injuries have become septic.
A relative of the victim, Funmilola, who spoke with our correspondent, alleged, “Her colleague poured her hot oil on the instruction of her boss. The boss, who is Eleha, after the event, has been bragging that the matter would not go beyond the police, claiming nothing will happen.
“And truly, Police invited her and released her the same day. The second day of the incident, the woman opened her shop in Jankara, where the incident occurred, to continue her business with the girl she sent to perpetrate the evil. As I speak with you, Bola is abandoned in the hospital.”
One of the leaders of a civil society group, the Advocate for Children and Vulnerable Persons Network, Mr Ebenezer Omejalile, lamented the current situation of the teenage canteen worker.
Unfortunately in her quest to make life better for herself and her mother, she was served the other side of life when a cauldron of sizzling cooking oil was poured on her by her colleague, who was allegedly sent by their boss, Eleha
Omejalile said, “The Survivor has been identified at the Casualty Ward of Lagos Island Hospital by Dr Yolanda George; obviously the girl has been practically abandoned due to lack of funds to continue her treatment.
“Certain facts came out. This incident occurred two weeks ago and the survivor was kept in the house for ten days. Her injury has become septic to treat. It was confirmed from the Survivor that it was her boss, the food vendor, popularly known as Eleha, that instructed another sales girl to pour the survivor hot oil.
“This is contrary to reports that the survivor’s mother objected to the arrest of Eleha because all she wanted was to make money; this was refuted by the survivor’s physically challenged mother. Also, another fact showed that the orchestrator of this crime told the survivor’s physically challenged mother that the only way she can foot the bill is for her to instruct the Family Support Unit (FSU) of Adeniji Adele Police Station to release the girl in their custody.
Eleha has not been told the gravity of her offence; this is the reason she has the audacity and gut to give such condition.”
First News, however, gathered that Bola had recently been relocated from the hospital to her village when help seemed not coming her way regarding her treatment. And now she’s undergoing treatment in the traditional way due to lack of funds to pay hospital bills.
The victim’s hapless mother, who spoke with our correspondent on the phone, said, “I have moved her (Bola) down here in Ikire, Oyo State, for traditional treatment. The woman didn’t come to our help in Lagos.
“Apart from that, there is no place for my daughter to stay in Lagos again. We urge people to come to our aid.”
Bola herself also solicited help, expressing her wish to go back to school after recovering from her ailment.
“I was taken there to work by my mother so that we can survive, but the situation turned worse with what happened to me. I could have gone to school but no power (money). As you can see, my mother is physically challenged and there is no other means to survive than begging. But I don’t want this to continue; that was why I told her I will work before she took me to that place,” she said.
Meanwhile, the civil society group, Advocate for Children and Vulnerable Persons Network, has vowed to ensure justice for the teenager.