Mother faces prosecution over physical assault on 8-year old daughter

From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

The Nigeria Security & Civil Defence Corps, Kaduna State Command, is set to prosecute a 37-year old mother of three for alleged physical violence on her eight year daughter resulting in grievous bodily harm, thereby violating Kaduna State Child Welfare and Protection Law passed in 2018.
The state Commandant of the Corp Alhaji Modu Bunu, disclosed this in a statement made available to the media in kaduna yesterday Bunu who was speaking on the efforts of the command in reducing incidence of child abuse comprising rape of minor noticed to be unprecedented and other forms of abuses, said that everything legally possible would be done to sustain the tempo.
Bunu stated that on receipt of report on the alleged assault of the minor on December 19, 2018 operatives of the corps were swiftly mobilized leading to the arrest of Mrs Silvia Kalu who resides at Ungwan-Bije, Chikun Local Government Area.
On interrogation, Kalu confessed to have inflicted high degree injuries on her daughter for scattering their house when she returned home after work.
Continuing, she narrated that she poured kerosene on the victim’s clothes and lit matches resulting in the second degree burns.
She stated that the victim had formed the negative habit of abandoning her siblings at home and going to play with her peers in the same locality, an action she attributed to demonic influence.
In her perception, the action is believed to be capable of delivering her ‘baby’ from demonic possessions.
As investigation on the matter is concluded, both the corps and State Ministry of Justice would collaborate to prosecute the matter in court.
Currently, the victim is receiving treatment in one of the public medical facilities in Kaduna metropolis and is being monitored by the state Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development.