By Praise Chinecherem
A middle-aged man, Sunday Ezeh has been arrested over alleged attempt to use his 17-year daughter for ritual in Nise in Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State.
The suspect, a traditionalist reportedly accused the victim of messing up his compound with her feaces.
The victim was said to have been bound hands and feet by the suspect who locked her up in a room for one month without food.
Anambra Daily gathered that the suspect used a plank to hit her on the head before she was rescued by neighbours who rushed her to the hospital.
“Her father accused her of messing up the compound with her poo, saying the beating was her punishment.
“She sustained lots of injury all over her body and was billed for emergency surgery in the head,” a neighbour said.
Confessing to the crime, the suspect said he punished his disobedient daughter for desecreting his compound with feaces which was against his traditional belief and practice.
He however pleaded for pardon before he was handed over to the police.
Reacting, Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare, Ify Obinabo said the victim had been rescued and recuperating after successful surgery at pediatricis ward in Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital, Amaku.
She said the suspect was apprehended by local vigilante and handed over to Police following tip-off by indigenes of the community.
She said the case has been transferred to Criminal Investigative Department, after which the suspect would be charged.
The commissioner warned those involved in any form of harmful traditional practices against girls, children and women to desist forthwith or face full weight of the law.
“Prof Chukwuma Soludo-led administration has zero tolerance for any form of crime and anyone caught committing one must be severely dealt with,” she warned.
