Mother faces 2-month jail for burning daughter’s mouth with firewood
The Niger Child Rights Protection Agency is willing to charge a 30-year-old mother of three, Bilkisu Suleiman, to court for burning her nine-year-old daughter’s mouth with firewood.
The Director-General of the agency, Hajiya Mairam Kolo, said on Friday that the case was reported to the agency by the Headmaster of the victim’s school, Malam Musa Garba.
He noted that the victim’s teacher had reported the matter to the school authority after seeing the girl’s burnt mouth.
She said the accused was reported to have stopped the victim from attending school. She was sending her to hawk on several occasions. The alleged abuse happened in Niger State.
Kolo said the accused would be charged under Section 26 of Child Right Law for neglect, ill treatment and abandonment and exposure to risk of burning.
She said Section 26 of the State Child Right Law attracts a fine of N5,000, or a term of two months’ imprisonment.
The director-general complained about the attitude of parents who sent their children to hawk in order to make ends meet.
She said hawking exposes children to rape and other abuses.
Kolo said the agency would continue to protect the rights of children and bring justice to the vulnerable.
