Osun State Command of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has arrested one Mrs. Elizabeth Aderibigbe for child abuse.

Aderibigbe was accused of abusing her niece, Adesewa Oladipupo by beating her severely and leaving injuries on her body. Public Relations Officer of the Corps, Adigun Daniel in a statement, yesterday, said the 14-year-old Adesewa, has been staying with her aunt since 2018 when her parents separated. According to him, the victim reportedly ran away from her aunt’s home to escape another punishment on December 16, 2021, after she ate a leftover food she found in the kitchen.

She was later found on a prayer mountain and brought to the office of the NSCDC on December 18, 2021. Speaking at the NSCDC headquarters in Osogbo yesterday, Aderibigbe claimed that Adesewa was fond of stealing, adamant to corrections, hence, she beats her anytime she engages in deviant acts. On the scars on the body of the girl, Aderibigbe said she noticed marks on her body when Adesewa was brought from her father in 2018 and denied inflicting the bruises on her. But Adesewa, an SSS 2 student in the state, said the suspect has always been beating her with wire and cane whenever she misbehaves or refuses to do her chores. Meanwhile, Head of Anti-Human Trafficking Unit of the Corps, Chief Superintendent Onifade Clement advised parents against giving their wards to relatives or strangers. Clement said Adesewa was handed over to her uncle, Mr Oladipupo Olajide when she declined to be in the custody of the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs. The State Commandant, Ocheja Emmanuel also asked members of the public to report any issue of child abuse and charged parents to be watchful of their wards. “Broken home does not help children’s upbringing,” he said.