A 31-year-old woman identified as Blessing is in critical condition after being scalded with hot water by her neighbour and a father of two identified as Ejike in the Azikiwe Street, Mile 2 axis of Diobu in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital on Wednesday.
According to sources, the attack happened after an accident involving Blessing, a hairstylist, and Ejike’s young son.
Blessing had gone to retrieve boiling water from an electric kettle in the compound to style a customer’s hair when Ejike’s son bumped into her, causing some of the hot water to spill onto the ground and slightly splash the boy’s leg.
Witnesses said while Blessing was still comforting the boy, Ejike emerged from his room to ask what had happened.
As the neighbours explained, Ejike allegedly grabbed the kettle from the ground and poured its contents on Blessing’s chest, with some of the hot water splashing onto her face.
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.”
After the attack, Ejike reportedly fled, while Blessing was rushed to the Azikiwe Police Division, where she was issued a medical form and then taken to a hospital for treatment.
Meanwhile, the lady’s family is demanding justice, saying the action of Ejike is condemnable.
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.”
PUNCH Online observed that 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.”
