Lagos, Nigeria
Lagos, the most populous city in the African country, Nigeria. Google Maps

Chris Elvis, a Nigerian father, was reportedly arrested for padlocking his young son’s mouth, burning him with a hot iron and beating him to death.

According to IBTimes’ UK edition, 30-year-old Elvis was taken into custody for the death of four-year-old Godrich, whom he believed was an “Ogbanje,” or an “evil child” and caused him ill-fortune.

The report states the incident happened in Lagos, the most populous city in the African country of Nigeria, on Adetola Adelaja Street, Meiran, on Feb. 10. Elvis allegedly beat the child and burned him using a hot iron before locking him inside a plastic barrel.

A photo has also been circulating the Internet showing the alleged child with a padlock through his mouth. The report said Elvis locked his son’s lips together to prevent him from screaming as he beat and burned him.

[WARNING: The image below the story is disturbingly graphic.]

The child’s mother reportedly found her son dead when she arrived home from the market. Police arrested Elvis, who works as a security guard in privately-owned Merchant Navy, following the incident report and are still investigating.

The Punch, which cites itself as “Nigeria’s Most-Widely Read Newspaper,” reported Elvis feigned insanity following his arrest, “acting strangely to convince the police that he was mentally ill.”

The newspaper released details the murder charge from MS S.O Solebo of Ebute Meta Magistrate’s Court:

"That you, Chris Elvis, on February 10, 2014, about 5pm at 7, Adetola Adelaja street, Meiran Lagos, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did unlawfully kill one Godrich Elvis, aged 4 years by using hot pressing iron to burn him all over his body and putting him inside a plastic drum and locked the drum with padlock and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 221 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, Nigeria, 2011."

The Punch also said during his hearing on Feb. 19, Elvis was read his murder change and reacted by putting the charge sheet in his mouth. The magistrate warned him to behave while in court.

His plea was not taken and will resume in court on April 2.

United kingdom Nigeria