Police arrest woman who blinded 12-year-old houseboy

A woman identified only as Gloria has blinded one of the eyes of her 12-year-old houseboy identified as Peter  following brutal and frequent torture.

Gloria had employed Peter who is from Togo to work as her housemaid at 14b, Olu Akerele Street, Balogun Bus Stop off Awolowo Way, Ikeja area of Lagos State but the minor had been suffering severe beating in the hands of the woman.

According to neighbours, how Peter, a Togolese, was employed by the woman was not clear.

What is clear, however, is that Peter was always being subjected to constant beating.

A resident, who gave her name simply as Tayo, said: “We feared the unexpected with the manner the woman used to beat the boy. He has a deep sore on his leg.

When I asked him about it, he said it was from burnt from fire. He said the swollen eye was caused by beating from his madam for not washing a kettle properly.“

He has been subjected to violence for a long time. You know everybody used to mind his or her business in the compound.

When I saw the boy last, he was looking sickly. Hence I decided to seek help from the appropriate agency.”

Another resident, who pleaded anonymity, said the woman was well known for being violent.

He said everyone on the street used to keep the woman at arm's length .

He added: “If the boy comes to watch television with them in the parlor, he would be beaten.

On school days, you will see the boy leaving home around 9.30a.m . This is an ideal case of child abuse and child labour.

We need the intervention of child protection network in his case.”

When our correspondent visited the compound to seek the woman's response, the gate was not opened after repeated knocking.

The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Dolapo Badmos, was yet to respond to a text message sent to her mobile line on the issue at press time.

“We feared the unexpected with the manner the woman used to beat the boy. He has a deep sore on his leg. When we asked him about it, he said it was burnt from fire. He said the swollen eye was caused by beating from his madam for not washing a kettle properly.

“He has been subjected to violence for a long time. You know everybody used to mind his or her business in the compound. When I saw the boy last, he was looking sickly. Hence I decided to seek help from the appropriate agency.

“This is an ideal case of child abuse and child labour. We need the intervention of child protection network in his case,” the resident added.

Meanwhile, as at press time the police had not made any comment concerning the arrest. Telegraph/Naij.com