A 12-year old girl, Precious Nwali was reportedly battered by her mistress for allegedly stealing her N26,000 at Nzekwe Street, near Akwata meat market in Awka, Anambra state.

The victim, from Ebonyi state, was allegedly stripped naked and red pepper applied on her private part by the mistress, Mrs Charity Effiong who later drove her away from the house around 10.30pm.

According to the Nation, the victim, a primary four pupil was later found by a good Samaritan while wandering and crying along the market.

Narrating her ordeal, the victim, who sustained series of marks on her body, said she had severally suffered maltreatment in the hands of her mistress.

“She always flogs me with cable wire. She has her own children but she hardly beats them nor sends them to any errand,” she wept soberly.

Also speaking, the woman that picked her up, Mrs. Amaka Okoye, said it took her about thirty minutes to wash off the grinded pepper in her private part.

On his part, Pastor Effiong Inyang, who linked her up with the mistress, said the victim’s parents requested she stayed with her following the family’s predicament.

He said, “All her siblings are being given out because her parents are struggling to survive due to the condition of the family.

“The father has been under severe pain having sustained injuries after several falls from the palm tree.”

He said he had already contacted the victim’s parents who had requested she be brought back to them.

Reacting, the Secretary, Anambra State Child Protection Network, Lady Hope Okoye, described the action as a total violation to the state child right act of 2004.