A 24-year-old pregnant woman, Mrs. Abigail Eguta, has been arrested for allegedly subjecting her seven-year-old nephew to severe physical abuse in Anambra State.
Mrs Eguta, who was reported to the office of the state women and social welfare commissioner, Ify Obinabo, on Tuesday, said she brutilized the boy for eating fish she bought for Sunday meal for not correctly reciting the English alphabets (A,B,C,D…).
It was gathered that concerned neighbors intervened and brought the victim, identified as Sunday, to the office of Ify Obinabo on May 16, 2023.
The neighbors also revealed that the boy, whose body is dotted with scars of previous injuries inflicted on him by his guardian, had been out of school for a long time.
During questioning by the women and social welfare commissioner, Mrs. Eguta admitted to assaulting the young boy for eating the fish she bought for Sunday meal.
When asked if this was the only time she abused him, the woman confessed that she had also beaten him on Monday for his inability to correctly recite the English alphabet.
However, Mrs. Eguta claimed she did not intend to inflict injuries on the boy’s eyes or make him blind. She said it was by mistake that the beating affected his eyes.
In her plea for forgiveness, she acknowledged her wrongdoing and attributed her actions to the influence of the devil, stating, “I am very sorry. I didn’t intend to blind him or beat him in the eyes, but I mistakenly did so. Please, forgive me, it is the handiwork of the devil.”
The woman further alleged that upon her husband’s return and witnessing the extent of her actions towards the boy, he subjected her to physical abuse.
The commissioner decried the rate of child abuse going on in the state, describing Mrs. Eguta’s action as unjustifiable and unacceptable wickedness against another person’s child.
She ordered the transfer of the case to the state police command for proper investigation, after which the suspect will be charged.
Meanwhile, the victim has been taken to an undisclosed hospital in Awka for proper medical attention.
KanyiDaily recalls that police also arrested a couple identified as Kamal Idris, 24, and Ambasiya Idris, 19, for brutalizing their 11-year-old nephew in Adamawa.
