Lagos couple beat adopted daughter to death

Residents in the Igando area of Lagos State have been left in shock following the alleged killing of a 10-year-old adopted girl, identified as Faith, by her guardians, Paul Onyeama and Adline Ogbonna.

The incident reportedly occurred on Sunday after weeks of alleged abuse. The couple, who reside on Jemesi Papa Street, were said to have subjected the child to persistent maltreatment, including frequent assaults and strenuous errands despite her age.

According to a resident, Adekunle Taofeek, the situation worsened when the child fell ill for about two weeks, yet the alleged abuse continued.

“The couple had been consistently maltreating the girl. Even when she became sick, they didn’t stop. On Sunday, they allegedly beat her severely, and she died,” he said.

Sources said the suspects later took the child to a hospital, where she was confirmed dead on arrival.

Another resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, alleged that the couple initially kept the body in their room and behaved as though nothing had happened. Suspicion grew among neighbours, who raised the alarm after noticing the child had not been seen.

“The wife was even seen cooking the next morning like nothing happened. It was residents who became concerned and eventually discovered the child had died,” the source said.

The resident further claimed that the husband had attempted to arrange for the disposal of the body before both suspects were apprehended by youths in the area.

The matter was subsequently reported at the Igando Police Division, prompting the deployment of officers to the scene. The couple was arrested, and the child’s body was recovered.

A police source disclosed that the suspects claimed the girl died while receiving treatment at a hospital. However, preliminary findings indicated that she was already dead before being taken to the facility.

“The case will be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, for further investigation,” the source said.

Taofeek, who is also the state coordinator of the Take It Back Movement, said the hospital confirmed the child was brought in dead after he contacted a doctor at the facility.

He added that efforts were ongoing to ensure justice is served.

As of the time of filing this report, the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Adebisi, had not responded to calls or messages seeking official comment.

The incident adds to concerns over child abuse in the state, following a similar case in April 2025 in the Ojo area of Lagos, where a man allegedly beat his daughter to death.