A doctor at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital, Dr Tortiv Msen, has raised concerns after a 12-year-old girl suffered severe burns and permanent deformity to her finger following an alleged punishment over a ₦500 theft accusation.
Msen, who disclosed the incident in a Facebook post on Tuesday, said he was the doctor on call when the girl was brought to the hospital’s emergency paediatric unit.
According to him, the girl’s parents live in a village and had sent her to stay with another family in town. She was reportedly accused by the family of stealing ₦500.
Msen alleged that the child was subjected to severe punishment, during which her finger was burned and eventually became permanently deformed.
He said the girl was allegedly forced to continue carrying out household chores despite the injury, without receiving proper medical attention or wound care.
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The doctor said the child was eventually rescued after neighbours intervened and alerted the police. She was brought to the hospital about 10 days after sustaining the burn by a middle-aged female police officer.
Msen further disclosed that investigations later showed that the girl was not responsible for the missing money. According to him, a member of the family allegedly confessed to taking the ₦500.
The doctor expressed sadness over the incident, saying the experience had remained with him and highlighting the vulnerability of children placed in the care of other adults.
He warned that the girl could live with the physical consequences of the alleged abuse for the rest of her life, as the permanently deformed finger may continue to remind her of what she experienced.
The incident has renewed concerns over child abuse and the responsibility of adults to protect children entrusted to their care.
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