7-year-old boy loses both legs following hot water punishment by father, stepmother
The Kaduna State Government, through the state Ministry of Human Services and Social Development, has rescued a seven-year-old boy, Abubakar Sani, from his abusive father in Lere local government area of the state.
According to reports, the boy’s two legs were tied up by his father, who poured hot water on his legs for allegedly stealing biscuits.
The Commissioner for Human Services and Social Development, Hajiya Rabi Salisu, who disclosed the development to newsmen when she visited the victim, who is recuperating at the Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital, said that after medical examination, the only option to save the boy’s life was to amputate his legs.
According to her, “The boy’s report came to the ministry about nine days ago, and by then, his legs had already rotted and had maggots coming out, so the advice from the doctors was amputation to save his life.
“It is so disheartening knowing the pain and trauma the child must have passed through, and as if that was not enough, the father, with the help of his wife, the boy’s stepmother, locked him up in a room for over 20 days in that condition without proper food.”
She further disclosed that the police have apprehended the father, identified as Sani Tanimi Maishago and his culprit, the stepmother of the child.
She noted that after the police had completed their investigation, they would be charged in court and promised to keep the members of the public updated.
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Furthermore, she reiterated that the state government, through its Child Protection Law, is determined to defend the rights of all children because the social well-being of the child is the state’s paramount goal.
She emphasised that the state has zero tolerance for child molestation, domestic violence, rape and abuse of all sought on women and children and will not be taken lightly in the state, adding, “We will make sure that justice is served to serve as a deterrent to others. I also want to warn parents that they do not have the right to cause such harm to their children as the government also has rights over that child.”
The CMD, Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital, Kaduna State University, Dr Abdulkadir Musa, while speaking on the future implications on the child, said both legs had been amputated below the knee, meaning the boy would be crippled for life.
He said in future, perhaps the only thing that can be done to ease his survival is by equipping him with artificial limbs.
He counselled parents to know their limits when punishing their children and to exercise caution and perseverance to avoid irreversible consequences.
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