Advocates, police rescue girl chained over alleged missing N20, 000

Juliana Francis

The house where Roseline was chained

Members of the Advocates for Children and Vulnerable Persons Network (ACVPN), working in synergy with policemen from Alakara Police Station, Mushin area of Lagos State, have rescued a 14-year-old girl chained hands and legs over alleged missing N20,000 by her guardian.

It was gathered that ACVPN received the report on Saturday about the girl’s condition from a concerned neighbour and had quickly rushed to the scene at Agege Motor Road, Mushin, Olosha Bus stop, from where they called the police.

The 14-year-old girl, identified simply as Roseline, was alleged to have been chained by her guardian, a Togolese.

According to the concerned neighbour, he heard the cries of the girl from the window, at the back flat, second floor and had quickly reached out to ACVPN. The girl was crying of hunger.

One of the advocates said: “The girl was chained both hands and legs by her guardian. The guardian chained the girl, locked the door and left with the key.”

According to people living in the compound, the victim’s guardian used to be mean to her and had often subjected her to dehumanising treatments.

Fielding questions from the policemen, the girl’s guardian explained that she chained the girl because she misplaced a sum of N20, 000.

A neighbour alleged: “The girl is often subjected to all manners of child labour.”

The secretary, ACVPN, Mr Ebenezer Omejalile said the efforts of advocates and the police led to the quick rescue of the child.

He was, however, not too happy with the laxity some policemen exhibited in the rescue mission.

Omejalile said: “We’re committed to the End Violence Against Children (EVAC) 2030. But with the way child abuse cases are handled, can we really end violence against children 2030? The possibility of achieving EVAC 2030 is very slim with the ways and manner child abuse cases are being treated within the sphere of the police stations. Most officers seem not to know their limits and jurisdiction in a case. Their notion is always, police can handle and treat any cases in as much as it involves human beings. They ordinarily view other partners as enemy poke nosing into matters that doesn't concern them. I think if most with this kind of attitude continues in the police force, less is likely to be achieved by 2030.”