Jos: 11-year-old maid tortured to death by guardian

Jos—A microbiologist at one of Plateau State’s research institutes in Vom, Jos South Local Government Area, claimed she murdered her 11-year-old maid because she was masturbating.

According to reports, the deceased, Margaret Joshua of Kebbi State, fled insecurity in her community before being taken to serve in a family home in Jos by a rumored helper.

According to a source, the suspect, a mother of two, did not enroll the victim in school after her family took her in, instead beating the girl on a daily basis.

The girl was forced to sit in a container filled with hot water during a recent beating, which burned her buttocks and resulted in her death on Monday in the hospital.

Mrs. Grace Pam, the Plateau State Coordinator of the National Human Rights Commission, whose office is investigating the case, told reporters that her guardians must have tortured her while she was with the family based on the number of scars and wounds on her body.

“On Monday, a hospital staff member informed us that an 11-year-old girl had been severely beaten and injured by her guardian in Vom,” she said.

“The girl had scars and burns all over her.” We were told she was taken to Mandela Hospital in Kaduna Vom before being referred to Jos.

“When some of our staff met with the suspect at the Vom Police Station, where she was detained, she confessed to beating her and claiming the girl used to masturbate, so she was punishing her so she wouldn’t do it anymore.”

“She claimed she didn’t know what was going through her mind because she felt bad every time she beat the child.”

According to the guardian, the victim’s buttocks were burned, and she “fell into hot water and ran out of the house for nearly 24 hours after the incident.”

As investigations continue, the case has been transferred from the Kaduna Vom Police Station to the Jos Police Headquarters.