Nigerian police officer | File photo
The Borno state police command has clarified the details of a viral video showing children being flogged.
The command said the incident did not take place at an Islamiyyah school as initially reported on social media.
Nahum Daso Kenneth, the public relations officer for the command, said the incident occurred when two girls entered a man’s home and were caught plucking mangoes from his tree.
“Let me just set the record straight for you. So, the incident happened some time back. Two children entered the house of the man and they were plucking mangoes,” Kenneth, an assistant superintendent of police, told TheCable on Monday.
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“So, the man locked the door and subjected the children to severe flogging. His wife was taking a video recording of the incident that was happening.
“With the efforts of the community members and others that were there, they effected an arrest of the man. After arresting the man, the case was later transferred to the police.
“As I can speak to you, the case has been transferred to the ministry of justice who are going to be spearheading the prosecution process.
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“However, the suspects are still in our custody. We understand the sensitivity of the case.”
Usman Tar, Borno state commissioner for information, also clarified that the incident occurred in a private household, not in an Islamiyyah school.
“It’s not Islamiyyah. It’s a household owner who has a mango tree. The children entered the house and plucked some mangoes. Instead of sending them away, he flogged them, which violated the law,” he told TheCable via phone on Monday.
Tar confirmed that the man and his wife, who filmed the incident, were arrested about a week ago.
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“He abused the children by flogging them and he has been arrested. Once investigated, he will be prosecuted. I can confirm that. He is in police custody right now with his wife. His wife took the video,” he added.
