A Nigerian couple identified as Effiok Umo and his wife, Nnenna Umo who are natives of Okwojo Ngwo have been arrested by men of the Enugu state police command for allegedly abusing and assaulting their twelve (12) years old daughter identified as Mercy Umo after she fell asleep while slicing onions for the food they were preparing.
This was contained in a statement released by the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, ASP Ndukwe Ekea.
The PPRO said the arrest is sequel to information received by the Commissioner of Police, CP Ahmad AbdurRahman, MCPSS, MCJ, MNIM from the National Human Rights Commission, Enugu on July 12.
Accroding to the PPRO, the police commissioner immediately instructed the Divisional Police Officer, 9th Mile Police Station, to ensure the suspects are arrested and prosecuted accordingly after he recieved the information.
”Preliminary investigation shows that the couple are used to abusing and assaulting the child for little or no justifiable reasons by using objects, such as sticks, electric wires, heels of shoes and so on to mercilessly flog, hit and/or beat her up.
The height of it happened on 10/07/2020 at about 2230hrs when the wife, who is the child’s stepmother, abused and assaulted her to the extent of inflicting her bodily harm on the excuse that she dozed off while slicing onions required for food being prepared the said night.
This led to neighbours, who have found their act of inhuman treatment of the child unbearable, reporting the matter to the Police through National Human Rights Commission.” the statement said.
Ekea said the state Commissioner of Police, while frowning at the unbecoming occurrence of acts of child abuse, assault and inflicting of grievous bodily harm on children, has vowed to prosecute the suspects to serve as a deterrent to parents/guardians, who intend or have been committing such inhuman acts that infringe upon the personality and Fundamental Human Rights of children, especially susceptible ones.
He appealed to residents of the State to promptly report any person(s) found committing acts that impinge on the well-being and fundamental Human Rights of vulnerable children to the nearest Police Station or by calling the Command’s hotlines on: 08032003702, 08075390883, 08086671202 or 08098880172.
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