Tricyclist in police net for beating 8-year old daughter to coma in Anambra

By Praise Chinecherem

A commercial tricycle operator has been arrested for allegedly brutalizing his 8-year old daughter in Ifite, Awka South Local government Area of Anambra State.

The suspect, Chinedu Adim from Lokpa in Abia State, whose wife abandoned with two of their kids was said to have used hard substances to flog the daughter.

The suspect however denied the allegations during interrogation, describing the daughter’s ugly experience as spiritual.

He said, “I was formally a member of Anambra Vigilante Group (AVG) before I started driving Keke. We married twelve years ago with 2 kids, a girl, Blessing, now 8years and a boy, 6 years.

“My wife left me 8 years ago after my shop got burnt. My kids were suffering in the village and I had to pick them five years ago.

“My daughter woke up one morning and I observed Injuries on her body while I was bathing her. I asked her and she said she didn’t know, that she woke up to see lines on her body. I took her to the hospital where she was treated.

“The second time, she said she fell on the tiles and sustained injuries on the head. Some things she does appear strange to me. Sometimes I wake up midnight and won’t see her. I said this is not ordinarily and took her to church for deliverance.

“The third time I came back to drop food for her, I was told she was rushed to the hospital. She was in coma throughout yesterday.”

Reacting, Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare, Ify Obinabo said the report she got said the suspect beat the victim to coma, describing his narrative as folk tales.

She said, “The girl has been in the hospital since yesterday. The father beat her to stupor, claiming she was beaten in the dream. He had thought she would die so as to cover his actions.

“You know when men are abandoned by their wives, they tend to transfer aggression on their innocent children and forget that their blood is running in them.

“We’re not saying that parents should not flog their kids as a way of correcting them. But you beat them according to their age. That’s why the addage says, use one hand and beat a child and use the other to draw him back.”

While assuring her Ministry’s readiness to ensure the victim’s medical attention to ensure she survived, Obinabo said the suspect would be handed over to the police for further interrogation and prosecution.

“We will not abandon the child but ensure adequate medical treatment is given her,” she added