A young girl named Princess suffered severe burns on her body after her stepfather, Michael, reportedly poured boiling water on her.
The incident happened last Saturday at a house in Mowe, Ogun State, where Michael was the landlord.
According to Ejiro, a female relation to one of the tenants, Michael was a violent man who used to abuse his estranged wife and her daughter.
Ejiro said she witnessed Michael beating Princess with a whip on Thursday and Friday for refusing to go to school.
She said she also saw the injuries on Princess’ body on Monday morning and was shocked by the extent of the damage.
Ejiro said Michael claimed that he poured hot water on Princess because she and her brother were hungry and he asked her to boil water for them.
Ejiro said this was not the first time Michael had maltreated Princess, as he once beat her for three hours for eating bread.
Princess’ mother, Grace Ojile, confirmed that Michael had always been assaulting her daughter.
She said she was with Princess at the hospital where she was receiving treatment for the burns on her back and the wound on her head.
Princess, who spoke from her hospital bed on Monday night said Michael poured hot water on her on Saturday.
The police have arrested Michael and detained him at the Mowe Divisional Police Station, reports say.
The Divisional Police Officer, Afeniforo Folake, said Michael admitted to beating Princess for not going to school.
She said the case had been transferred to the state Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation.
