Fortune smiles on 9-year-old Nigerian girl “tortured for stealing crayfish”

Precious Chinwedu, 9, had a horrible Yuletide.

On December 27, 2015, her boss (Oh gosh! Should nine-year-olds have bosses?!) allegedly accused her of stealing crayfish.

Ifeoma Mbakwe then, allegedly, concluded bathing Precious in hot water would be the accurate punishment.

Here’s what Precious said she went through:

She (Ifeoma Mbakwe) said I should go and bring crayfish, but I told her I did not see it. She said I ate it. She used something we used to grind pepper to hit my head. She bit me in the back and poured hot water on me. I complained that my body was paining me. But she told me to go and sleep like that.

She does not give me food regularly. There is no food for me in the afternoon when I come back from the school. Sometimes, she would not give me food in the evening. She always beats me. I want to go back to my parents.

Mbakwe has been dragged to court but her case is yet to be decided.

Precious’ got reprieve as the Lagos State government is now on her matter to ensure she’s taken care of.

The Director of the Office of the Public Defender (OPD), Mrs. Omotola Rotimi told Punch:

The attention of the governor and the Attorney General was drawn to the plight of Precious Chinwedu, whose boss poured hot water on. We were instructed to take over the matter and the girl has been taken from the hospital with the help of the police. She is now in our protective custody.

Henceforth, our legal representative will appear in court on behalf of the victim and we will ensure that the case is diligently prosecuted to get justice for her.

Precious is a primary three pupil. She hails from Orlu, Imo State. She’s receiving medical attention from Rem-Yems Hospital in the Agbado area of Lagos. She’s been there since December 28.

 .