The Imo State Police Command has arrested a 38-year-old businesswoman, Juliet Igwe, for using candlelight to inflict injuries on the private parts of her six-year-old female maid, simply identified as Onyinyechi
Apart from inflicting injuries on the minor’s private parts, the businesswoman also used hot water to peel off the infant’s two hands and used candle wax to injure her body.
Parading the suspect at the Command headquarters in Owerri, the state capital, Imo State Police spokesperson Henry Okoye disclosed that the woman’s arrest followed intelligence received by operatives of the Ideato North police Divisional headquarters.
He also commended an activist journalist, Chidiebube Okeoma, who is the founder of a human rights organisation, Stand For Humanity Foundation.
Okoye, who described the woman’s act as despicable and totally unacceptable, disclosed that the suspect would have her day in court at the conclusion of the investigation.
He disclosed that the state Commissioner of Police, CP Aboki Danjuma, who is unhappy with the act, had directed the Deputy Commissioner of police in charge of the State Criminal Investigations Department to investigate the matter and charge the suspect in court.
Okoye also commended Okeoma and his foundation for taking responsibility for the medical and welfare conditions of the minor.
When interviewed, the suspect, who said that she inflicted the injuries on the minor, told journalists that she didn’t know that the use of candle wax and boiled water on the girl child was going to cause grievous damage to her.
The suspects also accused the child of stealing meat from her pot, saying her action was to forestall future recurrence.
Also speaking, Okeoma disclosed that his foundation alerted the police to the act of child battery in the Uruala community in the Ideato North LGA.
Okeoma disclosed that apart from rescuing the child and handing her over to the police in Ideato, his organisation also assisted the police in arresting the suspect.
“We have taken over the medical and welfare packages of the minor. We have taken her to the Imo State University Medical Centre in Owerri for proper medical investigations and treatments,” he said.
He also commended the Executive Secretary of the Imo State Health Insurance Agency, Dr Uche Ewelike, for approving complete free medical care for the minor.
“We also thank the state Commissioner of Police for immediately ordering the transfer of the matter to the state CID in Owerri when we reached out to him. The CP has once again demonstrated his love for humanity and justice,” he said.
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