Tragic Beating Claims 12-Year-Old Girl's Life in Adamawa
A devastating incident in Demsa Local Government Area of Adamawa State has left a community in mourning after a 12-year-old girl allegedly died from severe beating by her father. The tragedy unfolded following a family dispute centered around N1,000 that the young girl found on her way to the market.
Mother Recounts Heartbreaking Sequence of Events
Speaking exclusively to our correspondent, Mrs. Patience Enimim, the grieving mother, detailed the events that led to her daughter's tragic death. "What happened between my child and my husband was not an intentional act," she began, her voice filled with emotion.
The incident started when Mrs. Enimim sent her 12-year-old daughter to sell vegetables at the local market. During her journey, the girl discovered a nylon bag containing N1,000. When she learned that a grain seller was searching for her lost money, the child immediately confessed to finding the bag but explained she had used N300 to buy food because she was hungry.
"The woman gladly accepted the remaining #700 and asked my daughter to go home," Mrs. Enimim recounted. However, fearing her father's reaction, the girl didn't return home that night, choosing instead to sleep in a market shop.
Fatal Confrontation and Community Outrage
The following morning, Mrs. Enimim found her daughter and brought her home. When her husband, a police officer, returned home, he confronted the girl about the money. "My daughter explained that she didn't steal it, she only found it and had returned the change to the woman already," the mother stated.
Despite her explanation, the father began beating the child severely until she lost consciousness. The family rushed her to the hospital where doctors conducted tests and provided treatment. Although the girl showed brief signs of recovery over two days, her condition suddenly deteriorated, leading to her death.
The incident sparked immediate outrage within the community, with residents threatening to attack the father before security forces intervened. The man was subsequently taken to the police state command headquarters for investigation.
Revealing Family Background and Mental Health Struggles
Mrs. Enimim revealed crucial context about her husband's condition, explaining they had been married for 14 years. "For the past 4 years he has been on treatment because he was involved in a ghastly motor accident that has affected his mental health," she disclosed.
"Since after his recovery, he has been behaving strangely; sometimes, he even beats me," she added, painting a picture of ongoing domestic struggles within the household.
The grieving mother, who described the deceased as her only female child and the oldest among her brothers, expressed a complex mix of emotions. "I have forgiven my husband because I believe he didn't do it intentionally. I have nothing to do about the issue again; it's left for the security authority to make the final decision," she concluded.
This tragic case has brought renewed attention to the silent epidemic of domestic violence in Nigerian households and raises important questions about mental health support for security personnel and intervention in family disputes.
