Residents of the Igando area of Lagos State were left in shock after a couple, Paul Onyeama and Adline Ogbonna, allegedly beat their 10-year-old adopted daughter, identified as Faith, to death following weeks of reported abuse.
The incident, which occurred on Sunday, has sparked outrage in the community, with residents accusing the couple of subjecting the child to persistent maltreatment, including repeated assaults and strenuous errands despite her young age.
Sources in the area said the girl had been ill for about two weeks, but the alleged abuse continued. A resident, Adekunle Taofeek, disclosed that the situation escalated when the couple reportedly inflicted severe beatings on the ailing child, leading to her death.
According to him, the suspects later rushed the victim to a hospital where she was confirmed dead on arrival.
Angered by the development, youths in the neighbourhood apprehended the woman, while the husband—who was allegedly attempting to procure a tricycle to dispose of the child’s body—was also detained by residents.
Another resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the couple initially kept the child’s body in their home and behaved as though nothing had happened, raising suspicion among neighbours who had been monitoring the situation.
The matter was subsequently reported at the Igando Police Division, prompting the deployment of police operatives to the scene and the arrest of the suspects. The child’s body was also recovered.
A police source revealed that the suspects claimed during interrogation that the girl died while receiving treatment at a hospital. However, preliminary findings indicated that the child was already dead before being taken to the medical facility. The case is expected to be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, for further investigation.
Taofeek, who is also the state coordinator of the Take It Back Movement, confirmed that the hospital verified the child was brought in dead, contradicting the suspects’ account. He added that efforts would be made to ensure justice is served.
Efforts to reach the state Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Adebisi, for official comments were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.
The incident adds to growing concerns over cases of child abuse in the state, following a similar case reported in April 2025 in the Ojo area, where a man allegedly beat his daughter to death.
