Boy 10 thrown into fire over alleged stealing

Etim Ekpimah

A 10-year-old boy, Ifeanyi Umoke and native of Inikiri in Ohaukwu Local Government Area of Ebony State, was thrown into fire by one Paul Ifere Amah and Paul Nweke over alleged stealing of rice at the market square.

It was, however, learnt that Umoke has been admitted into the Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, FETHA2, where doctors are battling to save him from first degree burns.

A human rights group, HURIDE, said the boy had lost his mother while his father is suffering from a chronic mental illness.

The chairman of Human Rights Defender, Mr Samson Nweke, said they have received a telephone call from one George Etamesor of the HRCRC over the grave abuse of this poor child.

He said: “This little boy is 10 years old. According to our feeders, his mother is not alive, and the father is bedridden with a chronic mental illness.

“Because he was caught trying to steal some rice in their village market, he was tied up and thrown into burning fire in a refuse dump in the market.”

Some good Samaritans were said to have helped the boy out of the fire and rushed him to AMURT Hospital in Effium, which rejected him due to the severity of the burnt.

His was then taken to Alex Ekwueme Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki, AE-FETHA2, where he is currently being admitted, but is struggling to stay alive.

The suspects who committed the devilish act, Paul Amah and Paul Nweke, when asked why they did what they did, said, “Ifeanyi has been in the habit of stealing cassava, yam and others.

“So, this time, we caught him stealing rice, we decided to teach him a lesson so that he will not come back to steal food again. “It was not our intention to burn his whole body. We only tied him up and after beating him, we tried to roast his toes in the fire, but because he was struggling, he fell into the fire and got burnt beyond our expectation.”