Woman roasts stepson’s hand for adding antiseptic to his bathing water

A middle-aged woman, Mrs. Aminot Otun, is currently cooling her heels at the Lagos State Police Command for allegedly roasting the right hand of her seven-year-old stepson, Awwal Otun, last Thursday.

The child’s hand was reportedly roasted by his stepmother because he added some liquid antiseptic to his bathing water.

According to Ngozi Ekwerike-Okoro, President, Child to Child Network, a Non Governmental Organisation, NGO, a distressed call from one of Otun’s neighbours at 59, Suenu Street, Surulere, Lagos saved the poor boy’s life.

However, another drama broke out at the Mother and Child Hospital, Gbaja where Awwal was rushed to as the doctor on duty refused to treat or admit the boy despite pleas.

Awwal, a primary one pupil, according to his teacher should not be allowed to go back to his stepmother because he’s always coming to school with several bruises.

Concerned neighbours who pleaded anonymity said that such had been the normal punishment for the boy’s mistakes.

Awwal was later taken to a nearby private hospital for treatment and he is currently at the Juvenile Welfare Centre of Alakara Police Station.

Here is the story as recounted by Ngozi raw and uncut.

According to her, “On July 11, 2013, Awwal was rushed to the Randle General Hospital, Mother and Child Centre, Gbaja, at about 6:30pm after a distress call from neighbours.


 
“He sustained serious injuries from fire burns inflicted on him by the step-mother who is now in police custody.

“At the hospital, we requested to see the welfare officer whom we were told had closed for the day, but after narrating our mission to one of the staff, she referred us to the chief matron. The chief matron issued an emergency card to the boy and directed him to see the Doctor.

“The Doctor, however, refused to attend to the boy, because according to her, the hospital did not have enough space to accommodate the boy, as he would need admission for intensive care.

“We pleaded with the Doctor to at least administer some first aid on the boy, but she refused. We went back to the Chief Matron who told us after consulting with the doctor that Surulere General Hospital (Mother and Child Centre) does not have the facility to deal with such cases. They said our best chance would be to go to Ikeja General Hospital.

“We eventually left in disappointment and went to a private hospital in Mushin, close to the juvenile centre, where he got immediate attention and was treated free of charge.

The little boy while recounting his ordeal said he added small quantity of Izal disinfectant to his bathing water and his stepmother became furious and put his hand on a burning stove.

According to him, the woman refused to take him to the hospital or let him out of the house until neighbours intervened by calling the Lagos State Child Protection Network who mobilised the JWC Alakara to rescue him on Thursday.

Dailypost