Mother slashes daughter with blade for wasting N100

Angry residents of Ono-Odan Street, Ijanikin, Lagos, nearly lynched a mother, Kudirat Abiola, for cutting her nine-year-old daughter, Precious, with razor blade.

Kudirat made deep cuts on Precious's back, left leg and right arm with the blade to "teach her a lesson."

PUNCH Metro leant that Kudirat decided to punish her daughter after she wasted N100 given to her by her father on junk food.

A resident, who pleaded anonymity, told PUNCH Metro on Tuesday that neighbours were furious after seeing the damage on Precious, adding that the incident was one of many brutalities perpetrated by Kudirat, a mother of two and a trader.

He said, "We wanted to take her to the police, but Precious pleaded for her. The residents nevertheless searched for Kudirat, but she could not be found.

Precious' father, Dayo, is a customs officer.

A resident, Fasai Sunmonu, said Precious' father was not always at home because of the nature of his work.

It was learnt that Precious, a primary six student of Marvellous Nursery and Primary School, Sele, Ijanikin, had on Monday shown her wounds to a friend, Mosaki Rachel.

燫achel said, "Precious told me that her father gave her N100 on Sunday and she spent it. But she did not know that her mother had cooked rice at home. When Precious's mother found out, she beat her first, then used blade to cut her body. When I saw the wounds, I took her to my uncle, Fasai, who has hydrogen peroxide, for treatment."

Precious, however,� told our correspondent that her mummy was just training her.

She said, "I like my mummy, and she likes me too. She is just training me. My father saw the wounds on Monday and got angry. I told him not to fight with my mummy. My father said he would take me to hospital for treatment. But since then I have not seen him."

Kudirat's friend, Ramat Sunmonu, a teacher, said Kudirat believed in corporal punishment.

She said, "She often beats her children including the younger one, Daniel, who is four years old. We were closer before, but because of her aggression towards her children, I don't often visit her anymore.

"I was informed of the incident while coming back from church yesterday (Monday) evening. I ran to her house and when I saw the wounds, I was perplexed.

"I was told that she had run away from home since Monday morning because she was scared that her mother would do more harm. Precious came home at 9pm."

Segun Abogun, who resides in a room next to the Abiolas, said, "We have learnt to stay out of her (Kudirat) way."

Kudirat, who spoke with our correspondent on the telephone, however, said she inflicted the injury on her daughter because she was fond of coming home late.

She said, "I cut her because she often comes home late at about 11 pm. She doesn't stay at home and she is naughty.

"I did not punish her because of N100, but because of her bad behaviour. I want her to show the mark to her grand children to tell them that disobedience does not pay."