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File photo of gender-based violence
The family of a Lagos-based hairstylist identified simply as Fatima, has raised the alarm after her yet-to-be-identified lover brutalised her, resulting in the loss of her six teeth.
It was learnt that the incident occurred on Saturday, July 12.
It was gathered that the lovers who reside on Ibadan Street in the Ebutte Meta area of the state had a heated exchange of words, which later degenerated into a conflict.
A family member, who craved anonymity, citing personal reasons, told our correspondent on Tuesday that 27-year-old Fatima got beaten by her lover and lost six teeth in the process.
“A neighbour called and told us that Fatima was hospitalised. At first, we didn’t know that it was as a result of the domestic abuse until the person we sent to check up on her told us that he was beaten by her lover. We knew it was more serious when a picture was sent to us, and we discovered her teeth were affected.
“One of her cousins reported the incident at the Denton Police Station and the man was arrested. It was later that we discovered he was released,” the family source narrated.
A resident who identified himself simply as Adetunji said the Kwara State-born victim had allegedly endured constant physical abuse at the hands of her boyfriend.
The resident added that Fatima, however, begged for her lover to be released after her family arrested him over the incident.
“It is not the first time such an incident has happened. The height of it this time round is the damage done to her teeth and that was why the parents got to know about what happened. We have also intervened several times, but we discovered that she kept going back to the man. After the police arrested him, Fatima was the one who pleaded for his release despite her condition,” Adetunji disclosed.
Meanwhile, another source privy to the incident told PUNCH Metro that Fatima was undergoing treatment in the hospital.
“She had been fitted with temporary dental support, commonly referred to as a “teeth iron gag,” pending a surgical procedure scheduled for August 15,” the source added.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, could not be reached as calls made to his telephone line were not responded to. A text message sent to him had yet to be replied to as of the time of reporting this. (The PUNCH, but headline rejigged)
