OWERRI – The Police in Imo State have arrested a 35-year-old businesswoman, Edith Nwachukwu for battering her 13-year-old house help, Kelechi Ejieke.
The suspect was arrested on Tuesday by the operatives of the Owerri Urban Divisional Police headquarters after the minor was rescued from her at the popular Relief Market in Owerri, the state capital.
The woman who is now detained by the police was said to have accused the minor of stealing her money.
The founder of Stand for Humanity Foundation and a journalist, Chidiebube Okeoma, with some traders had alerted the police who arrested the woman and picked the minor.
Okeoma said that some traders forcefully rescued the child from the businesswoman who had allegedly inflicted injury on the girl and ordered more ten pieces of cane to use on the girl.
“Men of the Owerri Urban Divisional Police headquarters have arrested the woman and the minor rescued. The child was taken to a hospital in Owerri as the injury was severe. The suspect was detained.
“When I was informed, I quickly alerted the DPO. Thanks to some traders who rescued the minor and also involved the police. At the police station, the woman who later pleaded for mercy said her house helped steal her money, an allegation the girl denied.
“She said she battered the minor, a native of Amaeke Abam, Abia State, out of anger.
“Our organization, Stand For Humanity Foundation, is interested in this matter and we will ensure justice is served to further serve as a deterrent to people who dehumanize children. Child battering is a crime. We will continue to push until people stop it”, Okeoma narrated.
The spokesperson for the police in the state, Henry Okoye, said that the state Commissioner of Police, Aboki Danjuma, has zero tolerance for child battering and all forms of crimes.
Okoye disclosed that investigation into the matter had commenced by the police in the state.
