Police arrests the mother of boy abandoned at filling station

Last week, I brought to your notice a boy who was tortured and abandoned by his mother at a filling station in Lagos...read it (here) if you missed it. Police have arrested the mother of the boy. Her name is Blessing Goodluck, Blessing on Thursday last week tortured her 9-year old son, Kingsley and abandoned him at a filling station on Ijaiye Road in the Agbado area of Lagos for greeting their neighbour whom the son said his mother has a beef with.

According to PUNCH Metro, the police trailed the 23-year-old mother to Ojuelegba, where the son claimed they lived, without success.

It was learnt that she was eventually traced to a residence on Sule Babalola Street, Agbado.

Our correspondent had reported on May 1, 2015 that Kingsley was dumped at the filling station on Thursday by the mother.

It was also reported that Blessing beat up the boy, whose body bore scars of lashes, for greeting a neighbour with whom she had grudges. Some Good Samaritans were said to have fed him before taking him to the Ijaiye-Ojokoro Police Station.

PUNCH Metro gathered that the primary two pupil was taken to a general hospital for treatment. He was seen playing around on Sunday when our correspondent visited the police station.

The mother, who admitted her action was wrong, said she was frustrated, describing her son as being troublesome.

She said, “I have realised that I over-reacted. Kingsley is very stubborn and troublesome. He won’t sit at home. He will be jumping from one house to another. I was frustrated. I promise it will never happen again. I have learnt my lesson.”

A police source told PUNCH Metro that Blessing wept all night in custody. The source said Kingsley had also been counselled to turn a new leaf.

The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Kenneth Nwosu, said Blessing was still under interrogation and would be charged to court afterwards.

He said, “This is a case of child abuse. The 23-year-old mother was arrested on Sule Babalola Street, Agbado. The boy was abandoned in a bad condition. He was treated at the Lagos State General Hospital, Ile Epo. The mother is under interrogation.”