A Nigerian father slapped her own three-week old baby for being a girl, an action that has led to the baby been hospitalized.
Punch reported that the 32 year old father, Edet Asuquo, fled his home in Lagos State after subjecting her baby to physical abuse.
Police have now lunched a search for the man who allegedly said he did not see the usefulness of having a baby girl.
Asuquo who is a bus conductor is reported to have been angry that his lover, Rosemary gave birth to a girl instead of a boy as he was expecting before she went into labour.
The couple had several quarrels over the issue and on January 10 when the baby was said to be hungry and crying, her father slapped her.
The baby was rushed to the hospital due to the severity of the assault.
The Punch quoted a social worker in the community as saying that “According to the woman, the baby was crying that morning while the father carried her. He started abusing the baby and saying a girl would not be useful to him because he wanted a boy. She said he slapped the baby. At that point, the baby started convulsing. It was the neighbours who compelled him to get drugs for the girl’s treatment. She was later taken to a hospital. The mark of the assault is visible on the child.
A senior social welfare official Olubukola Salami, said “The rising trend in child abuse is alarming. Children are vulnerable and should be protected, not pummelled. The Lagos State Government will ensure the rights of children are protected and perpetrators who violate these rights, irrespective of status, are brought to book, no matter how long it takes,” she added.
Source: Africafeeds.com
