According to the source, the inhumane treatment of the children who were said to have been roaming the streets, stealing and doing hard work to eat were reported to the police by Aderemi Ogunlana Human Rights Foundation (ADOHF).
Aman identified as Ogundele Kazeem in Ogun State has been arrested and detained at Sango Ota Police Station for alleged domestic violence and child rights violations.
The suspect is accused of causing permanent deformity to his 12-year-old son and evicting him and his 14-year-old brother from their home.
The children were identified as Ogundele Rafiu, 14, and Ogundele Taoreed, 12.
The incident reportedly occurred in the Onike area of Ogungbade, Ogun State.
A source familiar with the incident told SaharaReporters on Monday that the man, who is currently detention would be arraigned in court later on Monday, for offences bordering on “domestic violence, child rights violations and permanent deformity of a minor”.
According to the source, the inhumane treatment of the children who were said to have been roaming the streets, stealing and doing hard work to eat were reported to the police by Aderemi Ogunlana Human Rights Foundation (ADOHF).
The source said the President of the Foundation, Chief Ogunlana Basirat, was contacted over the development and conditions of the children by So Safe Corps of Owode Ota.
The source said: “The man had been so cruel to his own sons to the extent of cutting off the finger of the younger one Taoreed who is 12 because he claimed the boy stole his N8,500. The older boy – Rafiu was always subjected to serious torture and tying down with rope.
“The children said their father told them categorically that he can’t be feeding them again and that was why they were going about to engage themselves with some labourers’ job like cutting grass and fetching water for people in the neighbourhood to find food.”
The source further noted that the children were no longer going to school or had stopped going home because of their father’s actions.
“The Aderemi Ogunlana Human Rights Foundation reported the matter to the police at Sango Ota while the man is to face the charges in court,” the source said.
The source regretted that efforts to get the mother of the children were unsuccessful, adding that efforts were ongoing to get her.
“She is culpable and guilty as her husband too and must face the charges for abandonment,” the source said.
“I asked the children whether they committed the offence their father claimed and they didn’t deny it. However, that does not give anyone the right to chop off the finger of a 10-year-old boy. The father testified to the fact that he sent them away from home and that he can’t be feeding them anymore.
“If he is not feeding them, then how will they be eating without thinking of stealing? The brutality towards those children is not just starting, it was luck that ran out of him this time around,” the source told SaharaReporters.
Meanwhile, efforts made by SaharaReporters to speak with the Ogun State Police Command were unsuccessful as the Command’s spokesperson, Omolola Odutola, did not answer her calls.