Teacher Makes Girl Sit On Hot Water Container In Lagos, Girl Dies (Graphic Shots)

A three-year-old girl, Haliya Abolore, has died in the

Gbagada area of Lagos State after she was allegedly made

to sit on a hot water container by her class teacher,

identified only as Maryam.

PUNCH Metro learnt that Haliya, who attended a private

school on Idoluwo Street, Dosunmu, Lagos Island, was

allegedly made to sit on the container on Wednesday,

October 21.

It was learnt that Haliya, who suffered burns in her

buttocks and private parts, was thereafter rushed to the

Lagos Island General Hospital for treatment.

It was gathered that the matter was reported at the Adeniji

Adele Police Division, while Maryam was arrested.

The school proprietress, Mrs. Bose Shomoade, was also

said to have been invited for questioning by the police,

and made to pay parts of the treatment expenses.

Our correspondent gathered that Haliya, after two weeks,

was moved to the Gbagada General Hospital, for further

treatment. The girl, however, died on Tuesday.

Speaking with PUNCH Metro, Haliya’s father, Abolore, said

he took the incident as a mistake on the part of the

teacher, who knew the container had hot water, and made

his daughter to sit on it.

He added that the school brought an undisclosed sum of

money for the girl’s treatment before she eventually died.

He said, “She was first taken to the Lagos Island General

Hospital.

Later, she was taken to the Gbagada General Hospital. We

have spent about N300,000 on her treatment.

The proprietress gave us N5,000 on the day of the incident.

One week later, she visited the girl. She gave some money

to my wife’s mother.

“The school teacher has been arrested and detained after

the matter was reported at the Adeniji Adele division. The

teacher was careless.

He knew the container was used to keep hot water and

she still sat her on it.

All my daughter’s private parts were burnt. She was asked

to sit on a container containing hot water.

“My wife is distraught. She has been taken to our family

house in Kwara State. Haliya is our jewel. We are so sad to

lose her.”

The Coordinator, Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence

Response Team, Mrs. Lola Vivour Adeniyi, said they had

written to the state Ministry of Education to investigate the

school.

She said, “It is sad. The abuse of the three-year-old

occurred when she suffered horrific burns. She was made

to sit on a container of hot water in her school.

We have just been informed that she died on Tuesday.

“Apparently, she stopped responding to treatment and the

pain was too severe. We have also informed the Ministry

of Education about the incident.”

A doctor in the hospital, who spoke on condition of

anonymity, said, “The girl died due to complications from

the burns.”

When PUNCH Metro contacted the school proprietress for

comments, her line did not connect as of time of this

report.

The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Joe Offor,

confirmed the incident.

He said, “The teacher was arrested and the matter was

transferred to the State Department of Criminal

Investigation for further investigation.

The operatives at the SDCI thereafter charged the suspect

to court.”