Tragedy struck in the Emene area of Enugu metropolis after a woman, Mrs. Ogechi John, was arrested for allegedly beating her nine-year-old stepdaughter, Ogechi Amanda John, to death.
The suspect, who is said to be from Oderiko in Ikwo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, was taken into police custody on Monday following the incident which reportedly occurred at the family’s residence in Nchatancha, Emene.
Residents of the area said the tragic incident happened around 3 p.m. on Sunday, alleging that the deceased child had long been subjected to repeated abuse and harsh treatment by her stepmother before her death.
The development has sparked outrage in Enugu State, with the government vowing to ensure that justice is served.
Reacting to the incident, the Commissioner for Children, Gender Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Ngozi Enih, condemned the alleged killing, stressing that the administration of Governor Peter Mbah maintains zero tolerance for child abuse and violence against minors.
“It is on record that the Governor Peter Mbah administration has zero tolerance for any form of child abuse, let alone child homicide,” she said.
“So, we swung into action on learning about this tragedy to ensure that the suspect was arrested.”
The commissioner assured that the state government would closely monitor the case and push for speedy justice.
“But it doesn’t end there. We will be pressing for thorough and expedited investigation to ensure that justice is not just done, but done really fast,” she added.
“Nobody should take another’s life and certainly not the life of any child in Enugu State. We condemn it in totality.”
Police authorities are yet to officially release full details of the incident as investigations continue.
[Vanguard]
