DOMESTIC VIOLENCE: Landlord On the Run After Beating 12-year old Tenant’s Daughter to Coma at Nkpor

By Praise Chinecherem

The landlord of No. 25 Awgbu Street Nkpor, Idemili North Local Government Area, Anambra State, Mr. Emmanuel Onyekonwu, has reportedly fled after allegedly beating his tenant’s daughter to coma.

AnambraDaily gathered that the suspect vanished into thin air after being grilled by police investigators at the Ogidi Police station over the crime.

This paper also gathered that the victim, 12, Miss Blessing Edeh was battling for her life at the intensive care unit of the Balm-In-Gilead hospital, Omagba, near Onitsha.

The daughter of tenant, Mr. Kenneth Edeh, was said to have escaped death by the whiskers after being beaten to the pulp by the landlord and his wife.

According to a co- tenant, Mrs. Ifunanya Igwe, who witnessed the incident, trouble started for Blessing when the children of the landlord threw stone at some co tenants’ children resulting to exchange of words.
Mrs Igwe recalled: “On hearing about the quarrel, the landlord’s wife rushed to the scene and started accusing those other children of throwing the stone at her children and at this juncture, Blessing who was by the side watching the drama, swiftly told the wife, “aunty it is your children that threw the stone to those children when they were passing-by.”

“Landlord’s wife became infuriated immediately and asked  Blessing who made her a judge in this matter, and the girl left the scene immediately to avoid further wrath from the landlord’s wife.”

“Later, Blessing and some children went to fetch water and on seeing Blessing, the landlord’s wife rushed and pounced on her like a wounded lion, slapping and beating her.

“In the process, her husband, the landlord rushed and took over the beating, hit her on the chest, leg and head with a block and pressed her hard on her breasts and neck,  resulting in one of her breasts swollen and she slumped.”

“On seeing that she was about dying, the landlord and wife wanted to run but were held by some youths who witnessed what was happening and was about lynching the landlord if not for pleas from some elders that Blessing be rushed to a nearby hospital immediately by the couple and she was first taken to a medicine store where she was rejected because she was at the point of death before she was rushed to Balm-In-Gilead hospital”

According to the victim’s mother, Mrs Francisca Edeh, “the  Medical Director of Balm-In-Gilead hospital where my daughter is hospitalized directed us to go for x-ray at Iyi-Enu hospital and as we were going, the couple vowed to deal with us and directed their lawyer to serve us with quit notice and could not pay #60,000 billed for x-ray and other medical attention bill at Iyi-Enu hospital Ogidi.

“My husband then sought for rescue from Barr Elysius k. Moneke who came to the hospital with the landlord’s lawyer and both condemned the action of the landlord, pledging to assist the victim for quick recovery.”

“However, as the threat from the couple continued, I went and lodged the matter at Ogidi police station and police came to effect the arrest of the couple but they refused to open the door and the police dropped an invitation note and asked me to come to the station the next day.”

“When I came I was told by the police that he jumped bail and as I am talking to you now he is nowhere to be found and the police said they are still looking for him”.

Contacted, counsel to the victim’s father, Barr. Elysius K. Moneke, revealed that, Mr. Kenneth Edeh, came to me for help over what the landlord and wife did to their daughter and that the landlord boasted that he has the money that the couple were poor people that could not withstand his financial muscle”

“That is the reason why l am ready to assist the victim and her parents, I have gone to the hospital and spoke with the Medical Director and he told me that the landlord could not even produce the #60,000 bill for x-ray and others at Iyi-Enu hospital”

“We shall meet in the court, I was told he is on the run, if he likes let him run to the moon. The police are inviting all the warring parties again tomorrow, Wednesday and I will be there. The small girl is still in the hospital, no food, drug and money from the couple that put her in this condition”. 

Text message put across to the Ogidi Divisional Police Officer, DPO, Mr. Ekuri Remigius, (CSP) has not been responded to but a senior police Officer who pleaded anonymity said that, “the suspect jumped bail, we are looking for him”