Residents of the Igando area of Lagos State have been thrown into mourning following the death of a 10-year-old girl, allegedly after weeks of abuse by her adoptive parents.
The suspects, identified as Paul Onyeama and Adline Ogbonna, were accused of subjecting the child, Faith, to persistent maltreatment before her death on Sunday.
Sources told PUNCH Metro that the couple, who reside on Jemesi Papa Street, had reportedly been assaulting the girl and forcing her to carry out strenuous errands despite her age.
A resident, Adekunle Taofeek, said the situation worsened after the child fell ill about two weeks ago, with the alleged abuse continuing during the period.
According to him, the girl eventually died after being severely beaten by the couple despite her deteriorating health condition.
“The child had been consistently maltreated. Even when she became ill, the assaults did not stop. On Sunday, they allegedly beat her again, and she died,” he said.
It was gathered that the suspects later took the girl to a hospital where she was confirmed dead on arrival.
The incident sparked outrage in the community, as youths reportedly apprehended the woman, while the man was also intercepted after allegedly attempting to procure a tricycle to dispose of the corpse.
Another resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, alleged that the couple initially concealed the child’s death and acted as though nothing had happened.
“They kept her body in the room. It was neighbours who became suspicious and raised the alarm, which led to the discovery,” the source said.
The matter was subsequently reported at the Igando Police Division, prompting the deployment of officers to the scene and the arrest of the suspects.
A police source disclosed that preliminary findings indicated the child was already dead before she was taken to the hospital, contrary to the suspects’ claims that she died while receiving treatment.
The source added that the case would be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, for further probe.
Taofeek, who also serves as the Lagos State coordinator of the Take It Back Movement, confirmed that the hospital where the child was taken verified she was brought in dead.
He vowed that efforts would be made to ensure justice for the deceased.
Efforts to reach the state Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Adebisi, were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report, as calls and messages to her line were not responded to.
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