Gift Ohanezeze, mother of the 19-month-old pupil of Arise and Shine Nursery and Primary School, Asaba, Delta State, who was reportedly flogged to death has broken her silence after the unfortunate incident.
The single mother alleged that her son, Obinna Udeze, was flogged to death like a goat by his teacher, Emeka Nwogbo, son of the proprietress of the school.
Narrating how her deceased son was reportedly tortured, the 28-year-old heartbroken mother alleged that her late son was flogged 31 strokes three weeks after she registered Obinna at the school.
WITHIN NIGERIA recalls that that Obinna was hospitalised after he was given 31 strokes of the cane for playing with water on Monday.
Speaking to newsmen amidst tears, she alleged that she met the school proprietress on Monday, February 7, the same day her son was flogged, who told her that her son committed a grievous offence, adding that the proprietress asked that she should come the following day.
She said: “I said what would be the offence of a child of one year and seven months. So, I left. Throughout that night we did not sleep. The next day, Tuesday, I took him back, that was when I could even see him properly, the bruises were uncountable.
“As I was making noise creating a scene for the teacher to come out, pupils from the class came out and told me that ‘our big mummy and uncle, and one aunty tied Obinna with white hanky hand and leg, and was flogging him like a goat.’
“I asked who big mummy was, they pointed at the proprietress. I met her and she didn’t deny it, she said Obinna is stubborn, that was why he was flogged. And I said who held him by the hand and leg, her son came out, looked into my face and said he was the one. My younger brother said he should come out, and he slapped my brother.”
Gift said Obinna’s condition deteriorated and was taken to the hospital at about 4 am on Thursday where the doctor said the pains resulted from internal bleeding and administered drugs on him.
She said Obinna was referred to the Federal Medical Centre, FMC, after his condition didn’t get any better. The doctors and others battled unsuccessfully to save her son’s life.
She said: “As soon as Obinna died, the school owner attempted to escape from Asaba to Onitsha but was tracked down at the park where the police took her and Emeka into custody.”
She lamented that three teachers flogged her son and inflicted multiple bruises on him, adding: “One of the suspects has already escaped from the town.”
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