Teen Girl Burned with Hot Iron by Tailor in Osun: NGO Demands Justice, Alleges Police Cover-Up
In a deeply disturbing case of assault and abuse of power, a teenage girl in Osun State has allegedly been attacked with a hot pressing iron by a female tailor known as Iya Abdullahi. The incident reportedly occurred after the girl complained about a poorly sewn dress. The attack, which has left the young girl with serious burns, has sparked outrage from human rights advocates and calls for justice from civil society organizations.
The incident happened on Wednesday in the Obelawo area of Osogbo, the capital of Osun State. According to multiple reports, the teenage girl (whose name has been withheld for legal and privacy reasons) had returned to the tailor’s shop to complain that the outfit sewn for her was not properly made — specifically, that it was too short for her to wear comfortably.
Complaint Turns Violent: Victim Recounts Ordeal
Speaking to journalists and human rights groups while receiving treatment at a private hospital, the girl recounted her traumatic experience. Displaying the burns on her body as evidence, she pleaded for justice and protection.
In her words:
“Instead of adjusting the dress, Iya Abdullahi started raining curses on me. I rebuked her, and she started flogging me with a stick. I struggled to dispossess her of the cane. Immediately, she went into her shop and took a hot pressing iron and used it to press my body in different places,”
The victim was immediately rushed to Olorungbebe Medical Center, Zone B, Palace Road Community, Ido-Osun, where she is currently receiving treatment for the injuries sustained in the violent encounter.
Value Female Network (VFN) Demands Justice
The assault has drawn the attention of Value Female Network (VFN), a respected non-governmental organization based in Osun State that advocates for the rights of women and girls. The group is now calling for swift justice for the 17-year-old survivor and has submitted a formal complaint to the Osun State Ministry of Justice.
The Executive Director of VFN, Dr. Costly Aderibigbe-Saba, described the attack as an extreme and inexcusable act of violence. In a report made available to The Guardian and shared with relevant authorities, she stated:
“The 17-year-old girl had given her cloth to a local tailor for sewing. Upon receiving the finished outfit, she found it too small and returned it for necessary adjustments. A minor disagreement followed this request. The tailor, rather than addressing the complaint, began laying curses on the girl.
"In an attempt to defend herself verbally, the girl responded, which further enraged the tailor. The tailor then physically assaulted the girl and went as far as using a hot pressing iron to burn multiple areas on her body, causing severe injuries.”
Police Officer Husband Allegedly Involved in Cover-Up
Perhaps even more disturbing is the allegation that the tailor's husband — who is reportedly a serving police officer in Osun State — is using his influence to suppress the case. According to the VFN report, the officer has been working behind the scenes to prevent the matter from being reported or thoroughly investigated.
“The tailor’s husband, a police officer, has reportedly intervened to suppress the case and prevent it from being reported or investigated properly. There are strong allegations that he is using his position and influence in the police force to shield his wife from justice,” Dr. Aderibigbe-Saba added.
The involvement of law enforcement in a possible cover-up has raised serious concerns among the public and human rights activists. The abuse of police authority to silence victims and intimidate their families is a troubling pattern in many assault cases in Nigeria.
Civil Defence Corps, Gender Rights Activists Step In
Following the incident, gender rights advocate Aduke Obelawo reportedly brought the matter to the attention of VFN and other human rights organizations. Thanks to her prompt action, the incident has also been reported to the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), which is expected to begin an independent investigation.
The involvement of the NSCDC offers a glimmer of hope for impartiality, especially in light of the alleged attempts by the tailor’s police officer husband to derail justice.
Tailor Responds: “She Abused Me First”
When contacted for her side of the story, Iya Abdullahi gave a very different account of what transpired. She claimed that the teenage girl came to her shop aggressively and began insulting her.
“She (survivor) brought a pair of trousers to me through a boy. She told the boy to tell me that the cloth belonged to the boy’s mother, a claim that was later found to be lies. Having realized that her lies were busted, she started abusing me,” Abdullahi said.
According to the tailor, the girl allegedly stepped on some clothes in the shop and tried to start a physical altercation. Abdullahi claimed both of them got injured during the struggle over the hot pressing iron.
“She came to my shop to scatter my clothes and even stepped on them. We started fighting, and she took the pressing iron, and I started struggling it with her; that was how she got the bruises, and I also got injured on my finger,” she added.
However, this version of events has been strongly disputed by eyewitnesses and those close to the victim, who say the girl was not the aggressor and never initiated any violence.
Victim’s Mother Arrested by Policemen
Adding yet another layer of injustice to the story, VFN reported that the victim’s mother was later arrested by policemen allegedly sent by Iya Abdullahi and her husband. The arrest was reportedly orchestrated from the Dugbe Police Station in Osogbo.
“The tailor had brought policemen from Dugbe Police Station in Osogbo to arrest and detain the victim’s mother,” VFN stated.
The arrest has been viewed as a further attempt to intimidate the family and silence their demand for justice, prompting further outcry from legal experts and civil society organizations in the state.
Calls for Government and Public Action
The growing number of assault cases in Nigeria, particularly those involving young girls and women, has underscored the urgent need for government intervention and criminal justice reform. The attack on the 17-year-old girl in Osogbo is not just an isolated incident; it reflects a systemic issue where violence against women is often tolerated or swept under the rug — especially when the perpetrators are connected to law enforcement.
Organizations like VFN are urging the Osun State Ministry of Justice, the Nigerian Police Force, and the National Human Rights Commission to take immediate and transparent action. They also call on the general public to stand in solidarity with the victim and demand accountability.
Conclusion: Justice Must Prevail
This case is more than just a dispute over clothing. It is a powerful example of how power dynamics, abuse, and gender-based violence continue to affect vulnerable members of our society. If left unaddressed, it will only embolden others to commit similar crimes, knowing that the system may protect them.
Justice must not be delayed, and certainly must not be denied. The 17-year-old survivor deserves to be heard, protected, and assured that her country values her life and dignity.
