By Jonathan Ugbal
A resident of Calabar, Mrs Sylvia Agiande is currently cooling her feet in Police custody after she was arrested for using an electrical iron to inflict second degree burns on her eight year old nephew, Romanus (actual name withheld due to editorial reasons).
The incident occurred on Sunday, August 16th at Muri Okokon street in the Anantigha area of Calabar South Local Government Area a statement from the Basic Rights Counsel Initiative (BRCI) who currently provide shelter and medical care for Romanus said.
The orphaned Romanus and his siblings are said to have been taken by Mrs. Sylvia whom is said to be their father’s elder sister, in July 2019, about a month after their mother passed in June 2019.
The trio lived, Mrs. Sylvia, a divorcee and her two kids all lived together.
Trouble began on Sunday when Mrs. Sylvia “served the kids garri and beans. However, she only served the victim garri. Her kids are said to have purchased groundnut for N50 (13 US Cents) and did not finish it. Romanus decided to help himself with the leftover groundnut,” said BRCI.
“The children reported this to their mother and she decided to plug the electric iron and used it to torture the victim just for eating leftover groundnut valued less than N50 Naira,” BRCI said.
As at press time, the victim remained in BRCI care after initial treatments for second degree burns while they await a response from the Ministry of Social Welfare to respond to the request of taking the child into custody.
