The police in Imo State have arrested a man, Uzoma Egemba, for allegedly scalding the buttocks, thigh and body of his 12-year-old maid for riding his children’s bicycle.
Egemba, who hails from Mbaise, was arrested at his Umuguma residence in the early hours of Thursday.
The suspect, who is currently in detention at the New Owerri police divisional headquarters, blamed the devil for his action.
He said he burnt the girl’s body on Sunday after he saw her riding the bicycle he bought for his children.
Some Nigerians took interest in the girl’s case following a video clip made by her school teacher, which went viral on Wednesday.
Our correspondent took the girl to the Imo State Specialist Hospital, Umuguma- Owerri, where she was admitted.
At the hospital, the member representing Mbaitoli State Constituency, Okey Onyekanma, where the girl hails from, representatives of the National Human Rights Commission, members of the Nigeria Bar Association, Owerri branch, and a social media influencer, Uba Dinamuta, vowed to ensure justice for the child.
A doctor, who refused to disclose her identity, told our correspondent that the injuries the girl sustained from the attack were deep.
The mother of the girl, Mrs Amarachi Jude, told our correspondent that she needed justice.
The police spokesperson for the command, Micheal Abattam, said he had yet to be briefed.