Taraba step-grandmother burns eight-year-old boy’s lips with firewood

Communities across Wukari Local Government Council of Taraba State are urgently calling for justice following the alleged inhumanity inflicted on an eight-year-old boy, Julius Chinecherim.

The boy, who is currently in severe pain, was allegedly brutalised by his 42-year-old step-grandmother, Ngizi Onwuasoalya, who reportedly burned his lips with firewood as punishment for misplacing N500.

The incident, which The Guardian gathered occurred last week, has continued to spark widespread outrage and tension within the Wukari council.

Deeply disturbed by the attack, community members, who spoke with our reporter in the state, urged the state government and child protection organisations to intervene as a matter of urgency.

Eyewitnesses who spoke with The Guardian said the step-grandmother used firewood to severely burn Julius’s lips, a brutal act that has left many questioning the motivations behind such a dastardly act.

The communities are vehemently calling for immediate justice, stressing the need for stringent measures to protect vulnerable children throughout the council and the state at large.

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Confirming the incident, the council Chairman, Samaila Dauda, announced that authorities have acted quickly in response to the situation.

According to him, the young boy is receiving medical treatment at the Federal University Teaching Hospital in Wukari.

Additionally, the accused, as made known by him, has been arrested and “she is currently in detention.”

While assuring the public that the 42-year-old culprit would be charged in court soon, he noted that the need for the people of the council to give peace a chance has become necessary for the rapid development of the local government.

“It is true that an eight-year-old boy named Julius Chinecherim had his lips burned by his grandfather’s wife. I quickly ordered her arrest, and the boy has been receiving treatment at the Federal University Teaching Hospital Wukari. The woman is currently under detention and will be charged to court soon, by the grace of God.”

The people of the community, who vowed to remain vigilant, are not only seeking justice for Julius but also advocating for systemic changes to prevent such incidents in the future.

The case, which has attracted significant attention, underscores the urgent need for improved protection and justice systems for victims of domestic abuse in Taraba.