A 38-year-old woman, Amarachukwu Happiness Nzekwe, who used a hot pressing iron on the back of her househelp has said that she only did it to discipline the child.
The woman, who identified herself as a nurse from Ezinifitte, Aguata Local Government Area, said the househelp stole her money.
She explained that she placed a pressing iron on a stove and used it to scald the child’s back after he refused to confess to stealing.
Mrs Nzekwe confessed to officials of the Anambra State Ministry of Women’s Affairs and Social Welfare, led by the commissioner, Ify Obinabo, after her arrest.
She told the commissioner: “All the suffering I have been going through because of this boy. I just had surgery, and I came back home and found money missing. I didn’t plug the iron into electricity, I just placed it on stove to discipline him.”
The victim was identified as her nephew and was only 13 years old. It was further alleged that she also locked the boy up at home without food most of the time.
Obinabo, who said Nzekwe would be prosecuted, avowed that such an attitude would not be allowed in Anambra State.
The suspect was later handed over to the police for further investigation and prosecution.