A nursing mother, Folake Ogunrinu, has been arrested by operatives of the Oyo State Police Command for allegedly lacerating her 10-year-old maid with a razor blade in the Sanyo area of Ibadan.

PUNCH Metro gathered that the suspect, who had accused the victim of stealing her baby’s milk, in a bid to discipline her, subjected the girl to torture by allegedly using a razor blade to lacerate her on the back and hand, leaving the girl with severe injuries.

An eyewitness, who pleaded anonymity, while condemning the action of the nursing mother, said the maid ran out of the house to get help from neighbours when she could no longer withstand the pain from the torture.

The eyewitness said, “It pains me to see a small girl in such pain; it was a terrible scene. The woman accused the girl of stealing her baby’s milk and subjected her to such a horrible torture. According to the victim, the woman used a razor blade to lacerate her back and when she could no longer cope with the torture, she ran out of the house and the woman still chased after her.

“It was when the girl ran out that we saw what had happened to her and forcefully took her away and rushed her to the hospital for treatment.

“From what we were told, the woman gave birth to a set of twins some months back and I think the girl was brought to her by a church member to assist the woman for a year. As small as the girl is, the woman usually made her to do all the house chores. I wonder why the girl has still not returned to her parents.

“We reported the matter at the Sanyo Police Station; I just hope that from this incident, people will learn to keep their kids under their watch no matter the situation they are experiencing.”

A reliable source, who did not want his name in print, said the victim’s family had refused to press charges against the woman, adding that the family members were willing to settle the case out of court.

PUNCH Metro learnt that the news of the torture, which is trending online, was greeted with condemnation of the woman’s action by Nigerians from diverse backgrounds.

Adeogun Oluwakayode, while condemning the torture on his Facebook page said, a government agency and a non-governmental organisation had taken up the case to get justice for the victim.

He said, “Let us be careful of the kind of discipline we administer to our children or anyone in our custody. The aim of discipline should be to encourage the child to stop negative behaviours, make positive choices and ultimately become a better person, and not to inflict pain or cause injury.

“Anyway, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons and the Women Trafficking and Child Labour Eradication Foundation have taken up the case. The wicked woman has been arrested.”

Musa Maria, who also criticised the suspect said, “What do you think of your own children when you do this to other people’s children?”

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Adekunle Ajisebutu, who confirmed the incident to our correspondent, said the woman had been arrested and her case file transferred to the state Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, Iyaganku, on the orders of the Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Odude.

“I am aware of the case; the suspect has been arrested and on the directive of the CP, Abiodun Odude, the case has been transferred to the state CIID, Iyaganku, for diligent investigation and prosecution. But I am also aware that the victim is related to the suspect,” Ajisebutu said.