A
teenage girl, identified as Onyeka John, has regained freedom after she
was allegedly chained by her mother to the burglar-proof bars for about
one month.
The girl lived with her parents in a rented apartment on Serebe Street, Abaranje, in the Ikotun area of Lagos State.
The parents reportedly tied up John by
the neck and legs for habitually running away from home, which they
ascribed to mental illness.
It was learnt that the parents had gone out on Wednesday and locked up the girl as usual.
On that day, the landlord, Mr. Oladapo
Olubajo, was said to have gone to the backyard, where the family’s
apartment is located, to check a pumping machine when he saw the girl.
The landlord was said to have alerted a resident, who reported the case to the police at the Ikotun division.
The resident, who begged not to be
named, said the girl’s parents eventually showed up at the police
station and made statements.
He said, “The parents locked the girl
up. She is about 14 years old. She was chained naked to the burglary
inside the room by the neck and legs. Policemen came to rescue the
girl. Her parents later turned themselves in at the station. They said
the girl had been a disgrace to the family.”
The landlord, Olubajo, told our
correspondent that he wanted to take up the matter with the parents, but
some residents prevailed on him not to.
He explained that he met the girl naked
in the apartment, adding that the condition she was could frustrate her
to commit suicide.
Olubajo said, “When I saw her chained to
the burglar-proof bar, I raised the alarm. The police later got the
parents to the station and interrogated them.
“The girl said she had been there for
almost one month. Her parents moved here a year ago. I have noticed that
their behaviour was odd. but I didn’t know they could go to the extent
of chaining the ir daughter.
“People begged me and the police
eventually released the girl to them yesterday (Wednesday). The
conclusion we reached is that I want them out of my house. They also
claimed the girl is mentally ill. Even if she is mentally challenged,
was that the right way to go about it? She could have killed herself.”
Onyeka’s father, who spoke on the telephone on Thursday, said he and his wife meant no harm for the girl.
He said, “She always runs away from
home. That was why we chained her. I think she is mentally ill. We
planned to take her to a hospital this month. As I speak now, she has
fled home again.”
The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Dolapo Badmos, said the case was under investigation.
“The lady is suffering from mental
illness. Her parents chained her to prevent her from entering the
street, and without intention to harm her,” she added.
Credit: punchng
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