The Lagos State police have arrested a 24-year-old woman who appeared on a viral video detaining a boy in a dog’s kennel in Lagos.
According to DSP Bala Elkana, “On 14th August 2019, a team of detectives from the Gender Unit, Command’s Headquarters Ikeja, arrested one Onyinye Mbadike ‘female’ 24yrs of No 7 Trimnell Street, Aguda for assault and child abuse. This followed a viral video on the social media showing the suspect torturing one Chibike Eziamaka ‘male’ 10years old of same address.”
The PPRO also said that the video also showed the suspect locking the boy up in a dog’s kennel, sharing space with dogs. The video was widely condemned by well-meaning Nigerians. The Commissioner of Police Lagos State, CP Zubairu Muazu mni ordered the Gender Unit of the Command to identify the Woman in the video, rescue the child and make the suspect face the full weight of the law. Domestic and Sexual Response Team (DSVRT), Alausa, Ikeja also added its voice to the call for investigation with a petition addressed to the Commissioner of Police to that effect. The Gender Unit traced the suspect to Chumpe Liquor Store, Surulere and her residence at Aguda.
The 10 year-old-boy was rescued and taken to a secured shelter. The suspect admitted that she is the one on the viral video flogging the child with a belt, but she denied locking the survivor in a cage with dogs. That she only locked him in an empty dog kennel where bags are kept. She claimed to have locked up the boy for a few hours before bringing him out. She alleged that the Chibike took a hot drink in their refrigerator and was misbehaving. That the suspect smashed the side mirror of her Toyota Camry with stone which made her detain him in the dog kennel. Investigation revealed that the survivor lost his parents and was brought to Lagos in 2012 from Anambra State by the mother of the suspect along with his two siblings.
The suspect and the survivor are cousins. The suspect’s mother is the elder sister of the survivor’s father. The suspect will be charged to court. The Command reiterated its commitment towards protecting the rights of children and other vulnerable members of the society from all forms of violence and abuses.
