Child Abuse: Parents Burn 9-Year-Old Son, Brother With Hot Knives In Delta

-..Police Arrest Mother, Father On The Run

…Rights Activist, Agberen Reacts

By Zoe Samuel, Nmormah Godswill, Itila Favour, Mine Idoghor and Onyebolise Favour

The Nigerian Police, Ovwian Division, Delta State, have arrested one Mrs David Onovughe, for child abuse.

Mrs. Onovughe was arrested in connection with an incident that took place in Udu Local Government Area of thr state where her husband Mr David Onovughe, with support from her, used hot knives on their 9 year old son, Goodnews, and his 12 year old brother, Anointing.

According to a statement signed by a rights activist, Derrick Oritsematosan Agberen, Goodnews was sent on an errand by a female neighbour to buy cigarettes with the sum of N1,050 and instead, he bought something to eat because he was hungry.

He added that the said neighbor reported the 9-year-old boy to his mother who then called the father to report the incident.

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The rights activist said that Mr Onovughe instructed his wife to place knives on the fire.

On his return, Mr Onovughe questioned Goodnews amidst severe torture, and Goodnews out of fear, mentioned Anointing, his 12 year old brother, claiming it was both of them who spent the money on food items.

The duo were flogged mercilessly by their father who then placed the knives, which were already steaming hot, on their backs, buttocks and even on Goodnews’ jaw, as a way of disciplining them.

On hearing the matter, the Divisional Police Officer, Ovwian Division, CSP Aliyu Shaba, promptly arrested one of the two suspects, Mrs Onovughe, (mother of the boys), while Mr David Onovughe absconded.

Furthermore, Agberen said, “it is high time parents realized that flogging/torturing, inputting peppery substances into the private parts of their children (dehumanization), and other forms of corporal punishment, are aged long traditions in Nigeria.
The society may not be responsible for how you fend for your family, but are very much interested on the amount of discipline and treatments you give to them. The society, churches, government parastatal and other social groups should play major roles in enlightening parents and wards on how to enforce discipline in the right manner as the effect of enforcing negative punishment on children can result to a lot,now and in the future.”

He continued: “Do not forget that children are great imitators; so give them something great to imitate.”