Mixed reactions have continued to trail the report of an 11-year-old boy, Goodluck Amaechi, whose wrist was chopped off by 61-year-old landlord Jeremiah Obifor for allegedly stealing a fish.
WuzupNaija reports that Obifor, who had been arrested, claimed that he chopped off the young boy’s hand when he and his friends invaded his compound to steal fish from his pond.
The incident was said to have happened in Okokomaiko area of Lagos a few weeks ago.
The father of the boy, Ikechukwu Amaechi, in an interview with The Punch claimed that the boy couldn’t have had access into the man’s compound to steal fish as alleged.
He said:
“Jeremiah Obifor fenced his house round. One can’t enter into the house except someone opens the gate.
“It took place at a canal. The canal is like three to four streets away from our own street. My son and other children were inside the canal and the canal passes through the man’s backyard.
“My son and other children, out of adventure, used to go to the canal to catch fish.”
The report has evoked series of mixed reactions among some Nigerians on social media.
READ ALSO: 61-year-old farmer cuts off hand of 11-year-old boy for stealing fish in Lagos
From the outpouring of reactions on The Punch social media page where the report was published, some Nigerians were of the opinion that the landlord acted right for chopping off the boy’s hand over the alleged theft, while others were opined that the landlord acted extremely out of order, saying no amount of theft by the young boy could justify his hand being chopped off.
One of the respondents, Oluwafierojimi Olukunle-Abiola said
“I am not supporting this man anyway, but the truth is that if an old man like this can be into fish pond business and be going through all the stress and a boy that lacks home training will be going to steal from the pond meanwhile the parent or whosoever is aware that the boy comes home with fish yet they refuse to caution him,then that is the result.”
Another respondent, Don-Michael Ezinwanne said
“Calling the little boy a thief is completely out of place. By the way it has not been established that the said boy actually entered the man’s home, it might just be a transfer of accumulated aggression. That not withstanding, in any issue that bothered on a child and an adult, the boy’s interest should first be considered. For instance, if the boy is the man’s child and he steals from him as he alleged will he chop off his wrist.
The man’s action is bad and evil. I unreservedly condemn it to it’s entirety. He is not fit to live in the society.”
Agbo Sylvester Idoga wrote:
“That boy was brought up by a woman,remember he’s being addressed as foster child,his guardians are aware he steals the fish every day and they enjoy fish pepper soup with spices. Now they are coming out to condemn the man’s action.”
Kaine Ananwune also wrote:
“When this boy grows up and have children, he would tell his children the story of how he went to steal fish and got caught and perhaps his children would learn one or two lessons, firstly never to steal from anyone, and secondly in case the child decides to steal, should endeavor never to get caught.”
David Oladele Adeniyi who believes fish farmers go through hell in the hands of petty thieves wrote:
“You don’t know what fish farmers go through from these young thieves. They would not visit your farm when the fish are small but carted away your fortune at maturity. So sad that the man over reacted but all the same a thief is a thief. My candid advise to parents warn your children to stay away from any investment that does not belong to you as parents
“Fish farmers spend time with huge amount to raise such fish to maturity.”
Otunba Richard Oluwatosin Aiyeriyina wrote:
“Both the boy and the man did wrong ! No doubt both of them are already facing the consequences. Debating on it is not necessary but the lessons behind it”
See other reactions:
