SWEEPER PUSHES NURSING MOTHER INTO A POT OF BOILING WATER

By Akpabio Aniema

Balaraba Musa a 30 years old trader who was pushed into a pot of boiling water by a sweeper in the Mile 12 area of Lagos State had his left breast, chest and stomach badly burnt as a result of the incident and she’s now writhing in pains. It was learnt that Musa was pushed into the big pot of boling water during an argument in front of her shop by one Abdullahi Yakubu. The victim who is a nursing mother said that she had an argument with Yakubu when she challenged him for dumping refuse in front of her shop. She narrated her incident, ‘‘I sell tuwo around Jamblo market in Mile 12.

On the said day being 23 January, 2014, I was boiling a big pot of water when I realised that someone had dumped refuse in front of my shop. I approached Yakubu who dumped it and he said I should go and tell the elders of the market. He further rained insults on me and I told him to get out, he then threatened to slap me but my friend pulled me away from where he was. As I reached my shop, he picked up a broom to beat me up, he said in Hausa language that I will eat my mother and I also insulted his mother. He then held my arms, pulled them backwards and pushed me into the pot of boiling water.’’

Immediately Yakubu saw the gravity of his actions, he fled the scene. It was learnt that the case was reported at the Mile 12 Police Post and later at the Ketu Police Division after which a manhunt was conducted for the suspect. He was later arrested two days later when he sneaked into the market. The victim was said to have been unable to do anything since after the incident and has to expose her breast for fresh air. She said she has difficulty sleeping at night and cannot proper medical care. She said, ‘‘I am still lactating and my breast has been disfigured. I can’t attend to customers because my breast will repel them and I find it difficult to sleep at night due to the agonizing pain.’’ ‘‘An auxiliary nurse has been attending to me but I hope the burns can heal completely, I would be happy if anyone can render financial assistance to me, I am not married.’’
The suspect however pleaded for mercy saying that the act was not deliberate. He urged the market elders to ensure that he doesn’t go to jail. ‘‘I know that I am poor but I can afford to give her money for treatment, please have mercy on me,’’ he pleads.