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| •R-L: Enugu State Commissioner for Gender Affairs and Social Development, Princess Peace Nnaji; Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee, ESUT Teaching Hospital, Dr. Titus Okpara; Chief Medical Director, Prof. Hycienth Onah; the Investigating Police Officer, Chinyere Apadhini and the mother of the victim, Mrs. Nnedinso Nnadi when the government’s delegation visit the 10-year old assault by her guardians, Miss Nneoma Nnadi at ESUT Teaching Hospital on Saturday. |
Enugu State Government has promised to take adequate care of the wellbeing of Miss Nneoma Nnadi, the 10 year old victim of child abuse and domestic torture in the state. The state government also promised to offset her medical bills and ensure that she receives adequate medical attention.
Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi also directed the Commissioner for Gender Affairs and Social Development, Rt. Hon. Princess Peace Nnaji, to immediately visit the victim at the hospital to ensure that she receives proper medical attention.
Nnaji, who was accompanied by the Chief Medical Director of ESUT Teaching Hospital, Parklane, Enugu, Prof. Hycienth Onah, to see the abused child, empathized with the victim and her immediate family and promised them that the state government will not take the matter lightly.
She said “we can never sweep it (matter) under the carpet”, pointing out that the act undermined the Child Rights Act.
Nnaji also thanked the neighbours for bringing the cruel incident to public domain, describing them as “Good Samaritans”.
Responding, the mother of the victim, Mrs. Nnedinso Nnadi, expressed gratitude to the state governor for the government’s concern and intervention, disclosing that it was a traumatic experience for the child and the entire family and asked God to reward all those who have played roles towards the rescue and treatment of their child.
In his remark, the Chief Medical Director of ESUT Teaching Hospital, Parklane, Enugu, Prof. Onah, explained that the victim is responding to treatment and is being taken care of adequately,” adding that “her chances of full recovery are high”.
Police Command had, at the weekend, rescued the 10 year old Nneoma Nnadi, whose guardians, an aunt and her husband maltreated.
A police bulletin from the commands’ spokesman, ASP Daniel Ndukwe Ezea, said the victim, Nneoma Nnadi, was being mistreated by her aunt whom she is living with to the extent of using different objects such as hot pressing iron, iron roads and nails to inflict grievous bodily harm as well as inserting pepper into her private part.
The aunt, Ifeoma Ozougwu, and her husband, Jude Ozougwu, residents of Thinkers Corner, Enugu, were arrested by the police following a tip off.
The police said “Following a credible information received at Enugu Area Command on 02/07/2020 at about 0900 hours, alleging that a woman in Akonameze Street, Thinker’s Corner, Enugu, inflicted degrees of injuries on her minor female ward, Operatives of the Command swiftly moved to the area where they rescued the victim, Nneoma Nnadi, aged 10, arrested the suspect, one Ifeoma Ozougwu, aged 24; and thereafter arrested her husband, one Jude Ozougwu, aged 40.
“On receipt of the visibly exhausted and traumatized victim, the Commissioner of Police, CP Ahmad Abdur-Rahman instructed the Area Commander to rush her to hospital for treatment. He bemoaned why the suspect will be so heartless to abuse and inflict such grievous injuries on another woman’s child left in her care and directed the immediate launch of a thorough investigation and prosecution of the suspect, her husband and any other culpable accomplices to the crime.
“The Commissioner further warned all those who may have been in the habit or are intending to maltreat and/or inflict grievous harm on susceptible children to desist forthwith, as the Command will not spare anyone found culpable in such inhuman acts that infringe on the dignity and fundamental human rights of children. He also advised parents/guardians to take responsibility, adequately care for their children/wards and train them with the fear of God Almighty.
“Meanwhile, preliminary investigation shows that suspect, who is victim’s relative and a mother of three (3), mistreats her to the extent of using different objects, including hot pressing iron, iron rod and nails to inflict several grievous bodily harm as well as inserting pepper into her private part.
REUTERS
