Trader Empties Hot Water On 12-Year Old Maid

The police in Lagos have arrested a 39-year-old
trader, Chinwe Abasi, for allegedly brutalising a
12-year-old boy, Chinedu Okorie, with hot water
in the Apapa area of the state.
It was learnt that Abasi, a mother of two, who
hails from Nnewi, Anambra State, allegedly
poured hot water on the boy because he
collected N100 from a neighbour to buy a pair of
socks to wear to school without the woman's
knowledge.
It was learnt that Okorie, who is in Junior
Secondary School 1, also worked as a sales
assistant for Abasi, who sold cloth materials in
the Oyingbo Market.
It was gathered that last Monday when schools
resumed, Okorie told Abasi that he would need
to buy a pair of socks for school. Punch
correspondent learnt that the trader allegedly
ignored the boy until Thursday when a
neighbour, identified only as Usman, gave Okorie
N100 to buy the pair of socks.
It was gathered that when Abasi learnt that the
boy had collected money from Usman to buy the
pair of socks, she became angry and beat up
the boy.
The 12-year-old was said to have ran to the
kitchen during the flogging. Abasi allegedly
grabbed an electric kettle of boiling water and
emptied it on the boy.
The matter was reported at the FESTAC Police
Division and the trader was arrested.
It was gathered that the matter was also
reported to the Lagos State Domestic and
Sexual Violence Response Team, and a
temporary shelter was provided for the boy,
where he also received medical attention.
Speaking with Punch Metro, Okorie, who hails
from Enugu State, said he was forced to collect
the N100 from Usman because he had no other
option.
He said, ''I told madam (Abasi) last Monday that
I needed to buy a pair of socks for school. My
teachers would seize my sandals without it. But
she did not buy them, and I went to collect
money from our neighbour.
''When she saw the pair of socks, she became
angry and started to beat me. I ran into the
kitchen. That was where she grabbed the electric
kettle and poured the content ─ hot water ─ on
me. It was around 7pm on Thursday.''
The trader, however, told Punch Metro that she
did not deliberately brutalise the boy, adding
that everyone knew she treated Okorie like her
son.
She said, ''On Monday, pupils resumed school,
and Chinedu (Okorie) told me he needed a pair
of socks and I said I would buy them for him.
Unfortunately, when I came back, I forgot. Later,
our neighbour said Chinedu collected N100 from
him to buy the pair of socks. I was angry.
''I queried him and warned him against the
behaviour. On Thursday, I gave him N100 to buy
another pair of socks. When he came back, he
told me he used the money for something else.
So, I beat him up.
''There were times when I gave him N1,000 to
go and buy fuel. He would spend three hours
and later say he misplaced the money. So, I
disciplined him on Thursday.
''He ran into the kitchen, and that was when I
mistakenly poured the water on him.
''I sell clothes at the Oyingbo Market. He is my
domestic help. I brought him from his village in
Enugu State about four years ago. The boy is
stubborn. I am not a bad woman.''
The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer,
SP Dolapo Badmos, confirmed the arrest, adding
that the suspect would be charged to court.
She said, ''The suspect has been arrested, and
she will be charged to court.''