Inspector General of Police
By Buba Gagigo
The Gambia Police Force has arrested a woman for alleged child abuse offence and currently helping them in their investigations.
The development followed a viral video of a woman allegedly beating a child with a pestle-like-object.
“The public is hereby duly informed that the woman allegedly seen beating a girl child with a pestle in a video that has gone viral has been arrested and placed in police custody. [Name withheld], a 30-year-old is arrested today Monday 20th September 2021. Her arrest came following a viral video currently in circulation on social media in which she was allegedly seen abusing and beating an eight year old girl with a heavy pestle causing her severe injuries,” the police said in a statement.
According to the preliminary investigations by the police, the girl is not a biological daughter of her alleged abuser, but a child placed under her [alleged abuser] care.
The police added that the woman claimed that she was angered by the girl’s failure to perform a task assigned to her.
Its Gender and Child Protection Unit strongly advised parents to desist from abusing and maltreating children; saying “there is zero tolerance for such a behaviour”.