Ten-year-old Ifunanya is currently battling for her life in an undisclosed hospital in Abia State after she was allegedly scalded with hot water by her employer, Ojiugo David.
PUNCH Metro learnt that the victim lived with David at their residence on Aba Road, in the Umuahia area of the state.
It was alleged that the suspect on Sunday boiled water and mixed it with pepper.
She was reported to have forced Ifunanya to drink it.
A witness, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the water scalded the lips of the victim and destroyed her voice box.
The source said, “The woman is fond of accusing the girl of different atrocities and using that opportunity to beat her. Ifunanya’s body is full of different marks and wounds from the beating she always received from her.
“The last Sunday’s own was the height of it when she boiled water with pepper and forced her to drink the water.
“When she realised the extent of the damage she had done to the girl, she took her to a chemist in the area, but the owner refused to treat her and advised her to take the girl to a hospital. But she refused and this made the chemist alert other neighbours and the police were invited.”
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Geoffrey Ogbonna, who confirmed the incident, said the suspect had been arrested and arraigned in court.
He said, “The matter was reported and the victim is in the hospital receiving treatment, while the suspect was arraigned in court today (Tuesday) and remanded in a custodial centre.”
