A 31-year-old woman named Blessing is critically injured after being burned with hot water on Wednesday in Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers State, by her neighbor and a father of two named Ejike in the Azikiwe Street, Mile 2 axis of Diobu.
Sources claim that the attack followed an incident involving Ejike’s young son and hairstylist Blessing.
While Blessing was in the compound getting boiling water from an electric kettle to style a customer’s hair, Ejike’s son ran into her, spilling some of the hot water onto the ground and splashing the boy’s leg a little.
Witnesses said while Blessing was still comforting the boy, Ejike emerged from his room to ask what had happened.
Ejike allegedly picked up the kettle off the floor and poured its contents onto Blessing’s chest, splashing some of the hot water in her face, as the neighbors clarified.
The source said, “As other neighbours were narrating what happened to Ejike, Blessing was still sympathizing with the little boy, he (Ejike) reached for the hot water in the kettle which was on the ground behind Blessing, came in front of the young woman’s front and poured the hot water on her breast which also splashed her face.”
Ejike allegedly ran away after the attack, but Blessing was taken to the Azikiwe Police Division right away, where she was given a medical form before being sent to a hospital for treatment.
In the meantime, the woman’s family is calling for justice, claiming that Ejike’s behavior is unacceptable.
The woman’s elder brother, Goodluck Nwankwo while speaking to newsmen said, “We want the Police to get the young man arrested. Then if he is arrested he will see what he did to my sister.
“It is not right, I have to do the necessary thing so that the Government can take over the matter. I want justice to be done.”
He added, “Due to the medical attention they gave her yesterday, she is getting better but the problem is the money they are asking is too much and I have spent much already.
“I am thinking if I have to go back to Anambra State and come back to be able to raise some money.”
According to PUNCH Online Blessing sustained severe burns on her chest due to the incident.
When contacted, the spokesperson for the State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the incident, saying the man had been arrested,
Iringe-koko, a Superintendent of Police, stated, “Yes I’m aware and the man has been arrested, The police have issued the woman a medical form and she is receiving treatment.”
Published by Ejoh Caleb
