Man Remanded For Detaining 2 Children Inside Water Drum

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE

A man, Martins Omotoyosi, who detained his two children inside an empty water drum because they ate food from their neighbours, having starved them from morning till evening, has been remanded in Correctional Centre at Kirikiri town, Lagos State.

P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened at Lawani Ode Palace, Oke Odo area of New London Estate, Baruwa, Ipaja area of Lagos, where the man, Martins Omotoyosi, resides with the two victims, Dorca, 8 and Oreofe 6.

The man, Omotoyosi, has been charged before the Ogba Magistrates Court for the alleged offence by the Police operatives from the Gender Section, where the matter was transferred from Ipaja Division after his arrest was aided by an organization known as Women’s Rights and Health Project, WRHP.

When he was arranged, he pleaded not guilty. 

The prosecutor, Victor Eruada, asked the Court to give a date for hearing to enable the Police to prove that he actually committed the alleged offence.

The Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. M. O. Tanimola, granted him bail in the sum of N200,000 with two sureties in like sum and was remanded in custody pending when he will perfect his bail conditions.

The matter was adjourned till 10th December, 2021, for mention.

The defendant, who is now cooling his head in custody, was said to have been married to the victims’ mother, who left seven years ago over constant beating and he started living with the children.
However, he reportedly transferred the beating habit to the children and was said to have constantly tortured them before they were eventually rescued. 

Accordingly to the residents, when he returned and asked them what they ate, the victims told him that their neighbour brought food for them because they had not eaten anything since morning. He was said to have become angry that they collected food from their neighbour. He then started beating and torturing them to the extent he put them inside a drum, which attracted the anger of the residents, who went after him before the Police intervene and arrested him.

The victims have since been taken to the Government Children Centre for protection and care and may not likely be taken back by the family over their conduct.