Child Abuse: Security guard tortures 10-year-old cousin for bedwetting

The Lagos State Police Command has
arrested a 27-year-old security guard,
Joy Amodu, for allegedly torturing her
10-year-old cousin, Foziya Danjuma.
PUNCH Metro learnt that Amodu,
allegedly beat up her niece for
bedwetting on February 29, 2014.
Our correspondent learnt that the
victim was tortured for several hours
before she fell unconscious.
According to the police, the suspect
used a spatula to beat the 10-year-old
and inserted Aboniki balm (methyl
salicylate ointment) inside her private
parts and her eyes.
It was alleged that the suspect also
inflicted teeth bites all over the girl's
body.
Our correspondent learnt that after the
girl fainted, her aunt rushed her to a
hospital in the Ajah area, but she was
rejected.
It was learnt that Amodu then took her
niece to a military hospital on the
Victoria Island, but the victim was
referred to the Military Hospital,
Awolowo Road, Ikoyi.
It was at the military hospital that a
non-governmental organisation, Hands
that Care, took over the case and
reported it to the police.
Police Public Relations Officer, Ngozi
Braide, expressed shock over the
incident, describing Amodu's action as
wicked.
She said, "On February 29, 2014, the
police at Onikan Division got information
that a little girl was in one hospital in
critical condition. The officers went
there and found the victim with her face
and hands swollen as a result of beating.
"The victim was later referred to the
Military Hospital, Awolowo Road, Ikoyi
for better treatment.
"An NGO, Hands that Cares, was invited
into the case by a good Nigerian. The
NGO said it would settle the girl's
hospital bills, but called for Amodu's
prosecution.
"The State Criminal Investigation
Department, Yaba, has investigated the
case and the suspect will be charged to
court. We are going to prosecute the
case in collaboration with the NGO."
The suspect, while crying profusely, said
she only beat her niece on three
occasions.
She said the victim was her uncle's
daughter and would never attempt to
kill her.
"I am very sorry for my action. I did not
envisage what happened. The first time
she wet the bed, I warned her to stop
bedwetting because she is too old for
that. She was left under my care by her
father who is my uncle, so I needed to
correct her.
"This is the second time she wet the
bed and I needed to teach her a lesson.
As I was beating her, she passed out.
"She was released to me by her father
when I told him about the strange
sickness that used to hit me because I
was lonely and needed a companion."
The victim, who was also brought before
the PPRO, could not talk much, but
when asked if she was tortured by her
cousin, she nodded in approval.
National Coordinator of the Hands that
Cares, Mrs. Jacinta Nworie, said the girl
was released to the suspect by her
father in Kogi State because Amodu
promised to train her in Lagos.
"The victim told us that the suspect bit
her, inserted ointment into her private
part and used stick to beat her up."
It was learnt that the family members
were already pleading that the victim
and the suspect be released to them,
saying it was a family matter.
But a police source said since the victim
was a minor, the government would
decide if the case should be treated as a
family matter or not.