The Police in Rivers on Wednesday arrested a man who allegedly used a hot pressing iron to inflict bodily harm on his 12-year-old son.
Mr Ben Ugwuebulam, the police spokesman told newsmen in Port Harcourt, that the suspect? Moses Jaja, allegedly pressed the iron on the victim's hand and back, after accusing him of stealing.
He said the victim had been taken to Braithwaite Memorial Specialist Hospital in Port Harcourt for medical attention, while the suspect had been detained pending the conclusion of investigation.
Ugwuebulam said Jaja would be prosecuted as soon as investigation into the case was concluded.
Our correspondent who visited the hospital reports that almost half of the victim’s back and left hand had been badly burnt by the iron.
The boy denied stealing anything, saying it was not the first time his father would be torturing him over such allegation.
The victim said he was originally living with his grandmother in Opobo Town, after his mother's death, but moved to his father's house in February.
The boy believed that his step mother was responsible for his father’s odd behaviour towards him.
“My step mother did not bother to intervene when my father was pressing me with hot iron; she pretended to be feeding her child.”
The boy, who claimed to be in Primary five while with his grandmother, said his father had not enrolled him in any school in Port Harcourt since he came to live with him.
Already, two NGOs, the Child Protection Network and the Federation of Women Lawyers have waded into the case.
Mr Michael Gbarale, the Chairman of the network of the network in the state, told NAN that their investigation had revealed that the suspect allegedly locked up the victim in his house after inflicting the injuries on him, to prevent people from noticing.
He said luck ran out of the father when he sent the boy out to fetch water, where youth in Borokiri community saw the wounds inflicted on the boy and beat up the suspect.
The chairman said Jaja was saved by the police who dispersed the mob and arrested him.
He advised the state government to establish courts to handle cases of child abuse, to ensure accelerated hearing and disposal of such matters.
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