Tragic Suicide of 14-Year-Old Girl Amidst Allegations of Persistent Abuse by Father and Stepmother (Watch)
In a deeply distressing incident, a 14-year-old girl named Desola Adeoye took her own life on August 22 in the Shogunle community of Lagos. The heart-wrenching story, as reported by Vanguard, unveils a disturbing narrative of alleged severe mistreatment by her father, Sunday Adeoye, and stepmother, leading her to resort to such a drastic action.
According to accounts, Desola had purportedly endured unimaginable violence at the hands of her father and stepmother. Fearing further torment, she made the agonizing decision to drink insecticide in an attempt to escape the unbearable suffering she had experienced.
The catalyst for her tragic act appeared to be a threat from her stepmother, who allegedly warned Desola that her father would take aggressive action against her upon his return home. Feeling trapped and overwhelmed by the situation, Desola fled the house and ingested the insecticide that was within reach. She was rushed to a nearby private hospital, where her young life came to an end.
In a disturbing twist, her father returned and attempted to remove her lifeless body from the hospital, with the intention of secretly burying her. Neighbors, however, intervened and alerted police officers from the Shogunle Divisional Police station, thwarting this plan.
A neighbor attested to the distressing environment in which Desola and her siblings were raised, subject to ongoing domestic violence by their own father and stepmother whenever they made even the slightest mistake. The Shogunle Community Development Association in Oshodi reportedly had a history of cautioning the couple to cease the abuse directed at their children, including Desola.
Mr. Ebenezer Omejalile, the Chief Operating Officer of Advocates for Children and Vulnerable Persons Network, called upon the Lagos State government, the Nigeria Police, and the Nigeria Bar Association to intervene on behalf of the remaining two children who are still in the care of the couple. He also advocated for justice to be served for the late Desola, shedding light on the dire need for safeguards against such tragic outcomes for vulnerable youth.