May we live long to protect our children – Nigerian doctor writes after treating 12-year-old girl subjected to ‘hellfire punishment’ over alleged N500 theft

A Nigerian doctor, Tortiv Samuel Msen, has recalled treating a 12-old-old girl who was subjected to what he described as “hellfire treatment” after she was falsely accused of stealing N500 by the family she was living with. 

Dr Msen, who shared the story in a Facebook post on Monday, August 10, 2026 said the moment stuck with him since then, adding that parents do not pray for longevity out of desire for worldly pleasures, but rather to live long enough to raise and care for their own children.

According to the doctor, he was on call in the emergency pediatric unit when the minor was brought in by a female police officer. 

The police officer explained that the family the girl was living with burnt her index finger until it was physically deformed.

The said Despite the worsening injury, they forced her to continue doing demanding household chores without treating the wound.

It took the intervention of vigilant neighbors to rescue her and alert the police. 

Investigation later revealed that another family member confessed to taking the money. 

“I was the doctor on call months ago when a 12 years old girl walked into the emergency paediatric unit with a middle aged female police officer. She had a burn on her index finger that happened 10 days before presentation,” he wrote 

 

“The girl’s parents live in a village, so she has been sent to stay with another family in town. That family accused her of stealing N500.

 

“They subjected her to a hellfire punishment, burning her finger until it was deformed. They forced her to a continuous  house chores without wound care even as her finger worsened. 

 

“No pain compares that of a burn. It took the efforts of neighbors to rescue her and inform the police.

 

“It was later found out that one of the family members (who confessed to the police of this crime) took the money and not the poor girl.

 

“That moment stayed with me. As parents, praying for longevity is beyond our cravings for the beautiful things of this world, but that we may be there and strong enough to care for our children.

 

“The little girl will grow up with a deformed finger constantly reminding her of how below the bare minimum adults around her fell.”