The passing out parade of the Batch B stream II youth corps members is a joyful thing for Qasim Akanmu serving in Ondo Town, Ondo state. But to Aisha, a 10 year old Beninese housemaid, it will be the beginning of another phase of harrowing experience without succor from her master, one Mrs Sola Akinde who allegedly tortures the girl.
Qasim Akanmu is a youth corps member living in the Holy Trinity Secondary School area of Ondo. The attention of this reporter was drawn to a little girl kneeling down for Qasim in appreciation of all what he has done for her. The outgoing youth corps member when asked about the girl, gave blow by blow account of how he has been of help to the little foreigner in terms of food and money whenever she is been pushed out by her master.
Not really convinced, Aisha who looked dejected with the departure of Mr Qasim gave account of how she was being transffered from one place of work to another after she was brought to Nigeria by her grandmother.
”I will rather commit suicide than to continue living here with this woman. She beats me at will and even fights her husband every now and then. For the past one week I’ve had no shoes on, she took my shoes away from me. I slept outside the house yesterday in the midst of that heavy rain. Whenever madam’s husband wants to give me food, he will beg me not to let Madam know about it because it will lead to another misunderstanding between them and that will mean more punishment for me”
The Akindes who live at No 38, Road,beside Holy Trinity Secondary school in Ondo seems to be very comfortable with every amenities provided. But to the chagrin of this reporter including neighbours, Aisha which was renamed Bimbo had to fetch water not from the compound but in houses away from theirs every day. This was also confirmed by a passer-by who saw the child speaking with this reporter thinking the reporter is a relative of the little girl.
Aisha is another clear case of child labour and human trafficking. “I am from Benin republic but was brought to Nigeria by my grandmother. At first, I was taken to a village to work on farms, but I got to The Akindes’ family through one woman known as Madam Gbagi in Ibadan. It was that Madam Gbagi who brought me for the Akindes. Mrs Akinde beats me at will and I sleep at the verandah most times. She is always at loggerheads with her husband because the man is old”
When asked what would be her wish, Aisha was quick to answer that if there is any way she can leave the house as soon as possible either through the help of anyone or by running away, she will grab the opportunity quick. All efforts to speak with Mrs Sola Akinde as at the time of filing this report proved abortive.
