The policemen from the Igbogbi division have arrested Gift igwe for allegedly setting her brother in law, identified as Chimobi ablaze for refusing to produce his trousers as at when demanded.
The incident which took place at their home in Adenugba street, Agunfoye, Ikorodu, had attracted residents of the community who heard the cry of the victim, and rushed to the scene to put out the fire.
Officials of the public defender, who had been monitoring the treatment of Chimobi, have taken the 10-year old boy into protective custody of the Lagos State government.
Narrating the incident Chimobi said, “I misplaced my trousers and ‘mummy’ (sister-in-law) poured kerosene on me and used a matchstick to light fire. People came to help me. I have not been going to school since they brought me from the village,” he said.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Olarinde Famous-Cole, confirmed the incident.
He noted that Gift had been granted bail because of her child, saying she was mandated to be reporting at the police station daily.
He said, “We gathered that the boy was accused of misplacing something and because of that, she got kerosene and set him ablaze. Some Good Samaritans put out the fire. The boy is recuperating.
“When our attention was called to the case, we ensured the prompt treatment of the boy at the Ikorodu General Hospital. We also involved other government agencies, including a human right group working with the police in that area. The suspect was arrested and interrogated.
“She is a nursing mother; she has a child that is less than two years old. She has been admitted to bail with instruction to be reporting daily to the Investigating Police Officer and the Office of the Public Defender, pending the conclusion of the investigation.”
The Director of the OPD, Mrs. Olubukola Salami, said the victim had been taken into protective custody.
She said, “This is a case of assault occasioning grievous bodily harm and also an abuse of the child. The Government of Lagos state is poised to putting an end to all forms of domestic violence and child abuse. The OPD has been mandated to ensure that justice is done and the perpetrator brought to book for this barbaric act.”