A 33-year-old driver, Tayo Arowolo, has been arrested by police officers from the Idimu Division of the Lagos State Police Command for allegedly brutalizing his girlfriend’s six-year-old sister during a homework session. The arrest, led by Divisional Police Officer CSP Agatha Eze, came after Arowolo severely beat the young girl, identified only as Maria, when she struggled to understand her school assignment.
According to investigative journalist Deji Lambo‘s report published Friday, the incident occurred when Arowolo’s pregnant girlfriend, Adejoke, stepped out of their apartment, leaving him alone with the child.
Frustrated by Maria’s inability to comprehend the homework, Arowolo admitted to beating her with a belt and slippers.
“I was teaching her the assignment she got from school but when she did not understand what I was teaching her, I became angry and started beating her.
I never knew I had injured her that much,” Arowolo confessed following his arrest. The driver revealed that Maria is not his biological child but his girlfriend’s youngest sister whom they had brought from their village in Ikire, Osun State, to live with them in Lagos.
Arowolo claimed he only realized the severity of the girl’s injuries the following day, after which he purchased medication for her.
“When I saw the injuries, I felt bad and quickly bought drugs for her,” he said.
While expressing regret for his actions, Arowolo attempted to explain his behavior by comparing it to previous homework sessions.
“This is not the first time I am helping her with her homework. Whenever I am teaching her and she is not getting it, I will just assist her to finish quickly so I can go out. But on that day, I was not going out, so I became angry.”
The expectant father insisted his pregnant girlfriend was not involved in the assault and vowed never to repeat such behavior. When asked if he would have done the same had Maria been his biological child, Arowolo was notably silent.
