13 year old photo apprentice fights to save scrotum after severe beating from boss

THIRTEEN-year-old apprentice photographer Pelumi Fawibe is battling for his life at the Badagry General Hospital in Lagos State after his boss beat him so severely for going out to play with his friends that he damaged his scrotum.

 

Pelumi, who has been living with the boss for three years at his shop had to be admitted after being whipped with a wire, while the boss, Olajide Olaoye, was arrested by the police from Area K but was released afterwards. According to local residents, the boss had consistently assaulted the boy.

 

One eyewitness, who identified himself as Gbade, said the extent of the injury to Pelumi's private parts prompted people to alert the police. Apparently, Olajide had told Pelumi to wash his clothes on that day but the apprentice allegedly went to play with his friends and returned in the afternoon.

 

Gbade said: “The boy’s scrotum became swollen and was bleeding after he beat him up although he claimed the wire hit the boy’s private parts by accident. We invited the police who arrested him but he had been released after he said the boy was stubborn. Is that how to discipline?”

 

After Pelumi got back from playing, the infuriated Mr Olaoye instructed him to kneel down and raise a piece of stone. It was learnt that the stone fell from the boy's hands on the head of a boy in front of him.

 

Pelumi said: “I am learning photography under him as he is my uncle and I have been living with him for three years. The stone fell from my hands because I was tired, so he picked a wire and started beating me until it hit me in the scrotum.

 

"The spot is still paining me. I don’t want to live with him again and I want to go back to my mother.”

 

However, Mr Olaoye said Pelumi was notorious for coming home late, stealing and absconding from the shop. He said the injury to his private parts was accidental, adding that he would take him back to his mother soon.

 

“He is a very stubborn boy and his mother brought him to me three years ago, after which I enrolled him in a primary school and he is also my apprentice. He is in Basic Three now whereas he ought to have finished but he is dull.

 

"His stubbornness provoked me to beat him up. I mean well for him but he usually returns home late," Mr Olaoye added.

 

He stressed that the boy is too stubborn and can make anyone do what you do not intend to do. According to Mr Olaoye, the police have resolved the matter.