The Commissioner of Police for the Federal Capital Territory, Adewale Ajao, has ordered the immediate arrest of a lady accused of starving and physically abusing a 14-year-old girl in Abuja.
The decision comes after a horrific video leaked online of the child, Bashariya, detailing her trauma in Hausa.
According to the film, which was monitored by our journalist on Monday, Bashariya, originally from Zamfara State, was transferred to Abuja after her parents fled their hometown owing to ongoing bandit assaults.
They found safety at an Internally Displaced Persons camp in the Gwiwa Eka region.
In the viral video, the adolescent said that she was hired as a maid and sent to Abuja with the promise of a better life.
Instead, she claimed to have been malnourished, beaten, and even burnt as punishment.
Visible bruises and burn marks were discovered on various portions of her body, sparking indignation and calls for justice on social media.
Speaking with our correspondent on Monday, FCT Police Public Relations Officer SP Josephine Adeh verified that the Commissioner of Police acted quickly after seeing the footage.
She stated that Divisional Police Officers throughout the FCT had been instructed to seek and arrest the woman responsible for the abuse.
“Although the incident was not initially reported to the police, the Commissioner of Police, Adewale Ajao, has directed all Divisional Police Officers within the FCT to urgently identify and arrest the woman involved,” Adeh stated.
She continued, “The CP strongly condemns any act of child abuse. He emphasises that anyone who knows they are not capable of properly caring for a child should refrain from taking on such responsibility. No child should be made to suffer such cruelty.”
Adeh also urged residents of the FCT and beyond to remain vigilant and report any suspicious or abusive behaviour to law enforcement.
“When you see something, say something. Together, we can ensure the safety and well-being of every child in our communities,” she added.
