By Mary Agbabiaka
A 12-year-old girl has suffered a severe burn and permanent deformity to her index finger after a family she was staying with allegedly punished her by burning the finger over an accusation that she stole N500.
The incident occurred months ago when the girl was taken to an emergency paediatric unit by a middle-aged female police officer, about 10 days after she sustained the burn.
According to the doctor, Tortiv Samuel Msev, who attended to her, the girl’s parents lived in a village and had sent her to stay with another family in town.
The doctor said the family accused the girl of stealing N500 and subjected her to what he described as a “hellfire punishment,” burning her index finger until it became deformed.
