15th November, 2010
A middle-aged woman, Kate Ejim, yesterday, inflicted injury on her house maid, Chidinma, 17, in Fagba, Lagos, South-West Nigeria.
The woman, who was taken into custody at Oko-Oba Police Station, was reported to have deliberately used an object to inflict a deep cut on Chidinma’s head.
Speaking with P.M.NEWS, Ejim’s landlord, Dr. Sam Arukwe, lamented that Chidinma has been tortured and unhumanly beaten several times by the woman.
He said that he heard her crying at about 9 a.m. and thought it was a minor issue, but he had to interfere when she continued to cry.
“It was at that point that I saw a very deep cut on her head,†he said, adding that when he asked Ejim what happened, she said she used a spatula on Chidinma because she broke her water closet.
“I became furious and had to invite the press to come and intervene before she kills somebody in my house,â€Â Sam said.
He added that this was not the first time that she committed such barbaric act.
“Just about three weeks ago, after using broken bottle to inflict injury on the girl’s head and body, she still had the guts to ask her to fetch water for her household,†he stated further.
He said it is becoming unbearable for him as a father/husband and the owner of the house they live in.
“It was totally wrong for a woman in her right state of mind and who gave birth to children, to act in such a barbaric manner. It is very appalling,†Sam added.
Sam’s wife also confirmed the incident.
She said she fought the woman on several occasions because of Chidinma and wondered why her husband has not done anything about it.
“I’m surprised at the silence of her husband each time she unleashed terror on the teen. I wonder if she has not hypnotised him†she said.
Narrating the incident to our reporters, Chidinma said she did not break her boss’ water closet, but failed to buy the beverages she asked her to buy at 6 a.m. because most shops in the neighbourhood had not opened .
The 17-year old pupil of Kizitto Primary School, Fagba, claimed that when Ejim came to take her from her mother in the village, she promised to take good care of her and enrol her in one of the best schools, but she did not keep her promise.
Kate, who is still in Basic 3, alleged that Ejim maltreated her and most times, allow her to attend school once in two weeks.
Also, Sam’s caretaker, Prince Popoola, stated that he can no longer condone her behaviour.
According to him, “her actions warrant nothing but an eviction, which I have aptly served her husband. So, we expect them to pack out of my client’s house at the end of this month.â€
Meanwhile, the police had denied that the injury inflicted on Chidimma was serious.
The Divisional Crime Officer (DCO) of the station said “it was a minor rift that resulted to a minor injury and we have settled the misunderstanding.â€
—Dedeigbo Ayodeji & Hakeem Jimoh