Officials of the Lagos State Domestic Violence Respond Team (DSRVT) have rescued a 16-year-old girl, Amarachi, who was allegedly beaten and tortured with hot iron by her stepsister, Nneka, also known as Mama Emeka.

It was learnt that the incident occurred at 36, Fadeyi Street, Olowora, Isheri during Christmas celebration when Amarachi went to her friend’s place on Christmas Day and failed to return home same day.

This exasperated Nneka who decided to punish Amarachi and allegedly tortured the girl with hot iron. She also used razor blade to shave Amarachi’s hair and cut her thigh.

Speaking with our cor respondent, Coordinator of DSRVT, Mrs. Titlola Adeniyi- Vivor, said that her agency and the Child Protection Unit of the Ministry of Youth and Social Development were notified by the residents. She said that the woman would be charged to court today for child abuse related offences.

The coordinator added that the Ministry of Youth and Social Development would take charge of Amarachi.

She said: “A case of child abuse was reported to the team on the 3rd of January 2017, the offence was allegedly perpetrated on the 25th of December 2016 by the little girl’s stepsister popularly called Mama Emeka.

“It was reported that she used a hot pressing iron on her back, used razor blade to shave her hair and cut her thigh badly. It was also alleged that the perpetrator always beats her up regularly and makes her work and hawk late into the night.

“It must be stated that the whole community revolted against the perpetrator and ensured that she was apprehended.” Adeniyi-Vivor added that the case was currently being handled by Ketu Police Station (Family Support Unit).

The DSRVT coordinator also commended members of the public for seeing themselves as “mandated reporters” and ensuring the matter was reported to the authority. She said: ‘We are urging neighbours and residents to report matters of sexual and gender-based violence.

If you see something, say something. This can also be done anonymously. We hope that asides corporal punishment, the perpetrator would be mandated to receive psychiatric evaluation.”

The Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mrs. Uzamat Akinbile- Yussuf, on her part, said government would not condone illegality and other forms of abuse against children.

She confirmed that the arrested perpetrator would be charged to court today while the abused girl would also receive medical care.

Meanwhile, Amarachi told our correspondent that her stepsister had been torturing her with blade and hot iron. She said she would not want to return to the place again.

Amarachi confessed that she did not sleep at home on December 25, 2016 which made her stepsister to beat her.