Residents of the Igando area in Lagos State were left in shock after a couple, Paul Onyeama and Adline Ogbonna, allegedly beat their 10-year-old adopted daughter, Faith, to death following weeks of reported abuse.
The tragic incident reportedly occurred on Sunday. According to residents and eyewitness accounts, the couple, who lived on Jemesi Papa Street, had subjected the young girl to ongoing maltreatment, including frequent beatings and assigning her strenuous chores inappropriate for her age. Despite being ill for approximately two weeks, Faith was allegedly still forced to endure these abuses.
A resident, Adekunle Taofeek, recounted that the situation came to a head on Sunday when both parents allegedly assaulted the ailing child, ultimately leading to her death. “The couple had adopted a 10-year-old girl and had been constantly mistreating and beating her, even when she was unwell. Yesterday, they allegedly beat her so badly that she died,” Taofeek explained.
After the incident, the couple reportedly rushed Faith to a nearby hospital, where doctors confirmed she was dead on arrival. The news of her death sparked outrage among youths in the area, who quickly apprehended Adline Ogbonna. Another resident, who chose to remain anonymous, stated that Paul Onyeama was also detained by locals after he reportedly tried to secure a tricycle to dispose of the girl’s body.
After the girl died, her body was kept in the room as if nothing had happened. The wife even went about her usual morning routine, cooking in the kitchen. It was only when concerned neighbors raised questions about the child’s whereabouts that the truth came to light. Had they succeeded in disposing of the body, no one might have known what happened, the resident said.
The incident was promptly reported to the Igando Police Division. Police officers arrived at the scene, arrested the couple, and recovered the child’s body. A police source revealed that during questioning, the couple claimed Faith died while receiving treatment at the hospital. However, preliminary investigations suggested she was already deceased before reaching the facility. The case has now been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, for further investigation.
Taofeek, who is also the state coordinator of the Take It Back Movement, confirmed that the medical facility where Faith was taken stated she was brought in dead. He added that he personally verified this with the attending doctor.
As of the time of this report, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Adebisi, could not be reached for comments.
This incident comes just a year after a similar case was reported in April 2025, when a man allegedly beat his daughter to death in the Ojo area of Lagos State.
