(PHOTO) MOTHER BURNS DAUGHTER WITH HOT IRON

A woman, identified simply as Mrs. Maxwell, has been arrested by the
police for allegedly assaulting her daughter, Blessing, with a hot
pressing iron.
Blessing, a primary three student of the Lagos Model Nursery and
Primary School, Ikeja GRA, was allegedly assaulted last Monday by her
mother for licking the baby's food.
PUNCH Metro gathered that the incident came to light after a
neighbour, who lived within the Police College Barracks, Ikeja, with
the Maxwells, allegedly called the authorities of the LMNPS to
complain about Blessing's condition. Blessing's father is said to be a
police corporal.
A source within the school, who spoke on the condition of anonymity,
said, "It was last Friday that we got the anonymous call. At the time,
two of Blessing's younger siblings were in school, so we called them
aside and asked after Blessing.
"At first, they were both scared that they would get into trouble with
their mother if they told the truth but they eventually opened up and
said their mother had used a hot pressing iron on Blessing."
The Head Teacher of the school, accompanied by some other employees of
the school, was said to have visited Blessing at home.
It was learnt that on arriving at the Maxwells' house, Blessing was
seen sitting outside their flat, sporting burn marks all over her
body.
The source said, "We tried to question Blessing about what happened to
her, but she was scared of her mother. Eventually, we went into the
house and confronted the mother, but she lied that hot water had
mistakenly poured on Blessing.
"When we asked if Blessing had received medical attention for her
injuries, her mother got annoyed and dragged Blessing into the house.
She then refused to answer more questions. Since it was a police
barracks, we thought it wise to leave quietly before things got out of
hand.
"The most painful aspect of the whole issue is that despite Blessing's
wounds, their neighbour told us that she had been carrying out house
chores like before. From what I saw, that girl is so injured that I
didn't expect that she would be able to come to school for the rest of
the term. Not one of us guessed that she was being abused at home."
PUNCH Metro gathered that both mother and child were picked up by
officials of the Lagos State Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty
Alleviation after the school authorities alerted the ministry.
Blessing was said to have been picked up by a Lagos State Ambulance
Service bus.
When our correspondent contacted the Child Director, WAPA, Mrs.
Fadairo, she said, "I cannot talk at this time. We are at the hospital
and Blessing is in critical condition."
Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Ngozi Braide, could not
be reached for comment.