The Honorable Minister of Women Affairs, Barr Uju Kennedy Ohanenye has commended the Nigeria Police for its unflinching support for the fight against child abuse and other forms of molestation against minors and other vulnerable children.
The Minister made this statement today at a press briefing at the Force Criminal Intelligence Department of the Nigeria Police during the formal parade of Mrs. Adachukwu Okafor,the Onitsha-based Lawyer who was alleged to have inflicted bodily harm on a minor (girl), Happiness Nwafor a child live-in maid by designing her legs and body with hot iron and a kitchen knife.
Speaking during the presentation of the suspect before the media, the National Coordinator, Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices (POCACOV) Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Okuwobi Iloabanafor stated that “ on 29th January, 2024, the suspect accused her maid of fondling with her child’s penis and proceeded to tie her legs, mouth and hands, flogged her, inserted hot knife in her private part and poured ground pepper into it. She then placed a hot electric pressing iron on the hapless maid’s cheeks and buttocks”
In the words of the CSP “the suspect locked the child in a toilet without food until the following evening, after causing the maid trauma, she took the child to her Aunt, Mrs. Ifeoma Anike who raised an alarm which prompted passersby to take pictures and videos of the girl. The incident went viral on social media attracting the attention of Anambra State Police and the State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare”
She added that when all efforts to arrest the suspect proved abortive, the Honorable Minister of Women Affairs intervened by placing a N 2 million bounty on the suspect and with the coordinated efforts of the Nigeria Police through the directive of the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, the suspect turn herself in and was promptly arrested by the Police in Anambra State while the child is presently recuperating from the serious injuries inflicted on her by the suspect. She also assured the public of the IGP’s desire to ensure diligent prosecution of the case while warning that the Police have zero tolerance for domestic violence and abuse of minors and vulnerable persons even as the suspect will soon be charged to court after thorough investigation has been carried out on the matter.
Speaking earlier, the Minister expressed serious concern over the suspect’s act of inhumanity towards the minor and reiterated that the Women Affairs Ministry under her watch, will vigorously protect the interest of women and children even as all forms of child abuse or harmful practice against the female gender will be investigated and prosecuted accordingly. “ What my Ministry is pursuing is justice for the poor girl because under the present dispensation, it is no longer business as usual, we will leave no stone unturned in our pursuit for equity and fairness for women and the vulnerable in our society”
When the suspect was engaged by media correspondents on what prompted her action against the girl, she stated that “ my car suddenly developed a fault and in the process of trying to repair it, i caught the girl having carnal knowledge of my son inside my car. I was annoyed and had to flog her when we got home but in the process of trying to run away, she fell on top of my cooking gas and her buttocks got burnt and seriously injured on her cheeks”
She was asked if she regrets causing bodily harm on the girl and she responded “I am not happy about the whole issue”.
The Police have pledged to ensure proper investigation of the matter before arraigning the suspect before a court.
Ohaeri Osondu Joseph, Fnipr, Fcai
Special Assistant, Media
