Father of 10-year old girl chained for 7 days without food, water over accusation of being a witch, to be charged
The father, Mr. Godstime Esonoye is currently being detained at the Idimu Police Station. The state government has told the police it is interested in the case and would prosecute the culprit for abusing his 10-year old daughter.
Officials of the Lagos State Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, WAPA, have taken over the treatment of the girl at the Emergency Ward, Igando General Hospital, where she was rushed to after she was rescued from her father.
A top government source told GISTBUNK that the state government would soon arraign Esonoye before the court for grossly abusing the child, saying that the police at Igando had been told not to release the suspect.
The suspect, who lives with the girl at number 5, Olorunlori Street, Igando, was arrested on Friday by the police after it was discovered that the little girl had been chained in the legs for seven days without food and was being allegedly flogged by her father to confess that she is a witch.
The girl, who is living with Esonoye and her step-mother, Ogecchi, lost her own mother two years ago.
It was gathered that a female evangelist in the area had proclaimed the little girl a witch and that she was responsible for the misfortune in the family.
As a result of the poverty in the family, the man’s four children had stopped schooling due lack of funds while these were attributed to the little girl.
At the Igando General Hospital where the little girl is undergoing treatment, blood was seen on her two legs which had been chained for seven days.
Pregnant women who came for ante natal care at the hospital were said to have poured curses on the girl’s father and stepmother for subjecting her to such orderal.
Her stepmother, Ogechi, who is heavily pregnant, told GISTBUNK that it was her husband who chained the girl, after she confessed that she is a witch.
According to her, whenever the little girl wanted to visit the toilet, she would untie her and tied her back again after using the toilet.
“I regret this act. I never knew it is against the child rights law. My husband is in cell. I regret involving myself in this and I pray God should see me through,” said the 25-year old woman.
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