by the Lagos State Police Command for roasting the right
hand of her seven-year-old step-son, Awwal Otun.
Awwal's hand was allegedly roasted for adding drops of
liquid disinfectant to his bath water.
According to Ngozi Ekwerike-Okoro, President, Child to Child
Network, a Non-governmental Organisation, NGO, a
distressed call from one of Otun's neighbours at 59, Suenu
Street, Surulere, Lagos saved Awwal's life.
Awwal was rushed to the Mother and Child Hospital at Gbaja
where another drama ensued as the doctor on duty refused
to treat or admit the boy despite pleas that the hospital was
built purposely for mothers and children in the state.
Awwal was later taken to a nearby private hospital for
treatment and he is currently at Juvenile Welfare Centre of
Alakara Police Station.
According to his teachers, Awwal, a Primary One pupil,
should not be allowed to go back to his step-mother
because he always went back to school with bruises.
Neighbours who pleaded anonymity said that had been the
normal punishment for the boy's mistakes.
According to Ekwerike-Okoro, "On July 11, 2013, Awwal was
rushed to the Randle General Hospital, Mother and Child
Centre, Gbaja, at about 6:30pm after a distress call from
neighbours.
"He sustained serious injuries from fire burns inflicted on
him by the step-mother who is now in police custody.
"At the hospital, we requested to see the welfare officer who
we were told had closed for the day but after narrating our
mission to one of the staff she referred us to the chief
matron. The chief matron issued an emergency card to the
boy and directed him to see the doctor.
"The doctor, however, refused to attend to the boy, because
according to her, the hospital did not have enough space to
accommodate the boy, as he would need admission for
intensive care.
"We pleaded with the doctor to at least administer some first
aid on the boy but she refused. We went back to the chief
matron who told us after consulting with the doctor that
Surulere General Hospital (Mother and Child Centre) does not
have the facility to deal with such cases. They said our best
chance would be to go to Ikeja General Hospital.
"We eventually left in disappointment and went to a private
hospital in Mushin, close to the juvenile centre, where he got
immediate attention and was treated free of charge.
The boy said he added small quantity of Izal disinfectant to
his bath water and his step mother got angry and put his
hand on a burning stove since Sunday and he was not taken
to hospital till Thursday when neighbours called the Lagos
State Child Protection Network who mobilised the JWC
Alakara to rescue him. [Vanguard]
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