The children seen on the photo are Emmanuel (5yrs old) and Mary (9yrs old). They were left in care of Mrs. Boniface by their mum who is a single mum in search of a better life for her children in Lagos but unknown to her, Mrs. Boniface was maltreating her children.
She beats them with hot firewood and applied candle wax on their head and constantly gave them fresh pepper to eat as punishment.
Mrs Evelyn Idachaba who is a mother and a Volunteer at The Bridge Inspire Foundation came to their aid after witnessing this inhumane treatment while on a visit to her home Church fellowship. On that Faithful day, Some neighbors had called out for help when they saw Mrs. Boniface threatening to insert fresh pepper into the children’s anus after feeding some to them, as punishment for eating at a neighbors house. The children had stated that they were deprived food by their caregiver (Mrs.Boniface) and were hungry.
It was shocking when discovered that Mrs. Boniface was a mother to 5 children and also an expecting mother yet could inflict pain of another woman’s vulnerable children.
When Mrs Evelyn Idachaba got wind of this ill treatment on the children, she immediately swung into action, in her own words “I couldn’t sit and do nothing, when I am a mother of two”.
Mrs. Evelyn was able to influence the intervention of other people in the community, including some retired sodiers and two policemen.
She went further to get the contact of the children’s mother and asked that she returns to Lokoja to identify her children. Mrs. Boniface was arrested by the police officers.
Mrs. Evelyn took the children into her house, fed and nursed them and even took the children to the hospital for treatment as they were sick as at that time.
Upon the arrival of the children’s mother (Mrs Grace), she was taken aback when she saw her kids. She had disclosed that she been sending money weekly for the upkeep of her children.
She appreciated Mrs. Evelyn and the foundation for coming to the aid of her children. As for Mrs. Boniface had pleaded for forgiveness and was released by the police due to the fact that she was pregnant.
Mrs. Grace and her children returned to Lagos.