A 12-year-old Nigerian girl has suffered a permanent deformity to her index finger after she was allegedly burned by a family she was staying with over an accusation that she stole N500.
The disturbing incident reportedly happened months ago, with the child later taken to an emergency paediatric unit by a middle-aged female police officer about 10 days after sustaining the burn.
According to Dr. Tortiv Samuel Msev, who treated the girl, her parents lived in a village and had sent her to stay with another family in town. The family allegedly accused her of stealing N500 and subjected her to a brutal punishment by burning her finger.
The doctor described the punishment as “hellfire,” saying the injury eventually left the girl with a deformed finger.
Despite the injury, the child was reportedly forced to continue carrying out household chores without proper wound care. Her condition worsened until neighbours intervened, rescued her and alerted the police.
The case became even more disturbing after one of the family members reportedly confessed to police that they had taken the money, suggesting that the girl had been wrongly accused.
Dr. Msev said the experience stayed with him and raised serious questions about the responsibility of adults entrusted with the care of children.
He expressed concern that the girl would have to live with both the physical and emotional consequences of the abuse.
The case has renewed concerns over child protection and the dangers of violent punishment, particularly for children living under the care of people other than their biological parents.
