By Praise Chinecherem
A middle-aged man, Uzochukwu Okoli has been arrested for allegedly giving out his underaged daughters in marriage.
The suspect was apprehended following a report by one of his daughters to the Ministry of Women and Social Welfare of the maltreatment being meted out on her by her father and the man he forced her to marry.
The suspect, during interrogation, claimed her daughter is 18 years old and, at some point, said 20 years.
While being handcuffed, the suspect threatened to deal with the daughters if he finally came out of prison alive.
He urged them to pray he died in prison or be prepared to experience more misery.
“Just pray I die in prison because I will definitely deal with you if I eventually come out alive. I’ll make life more miserable for all of you,” he vowed.
Earlier, the daughter, Chioma Okoli, who claimed 16 years old, said their father brought them back from Edo state, where they were going to school to give them out in marriage.
Chioma who was accompanied to the Ministry by her elder sister, alleged that she was initially forced to live with a septuagenarian at the age of 14 before the father later gave her out to a 34-year old man, Chinedu Nweke to marry.
She said, “After the death of our mother, our father brought us back from Edo state, where we were going to school to take a husband.
“He first forced to live with a 70 plus year old man at the age of 14 but after sometime, I ran back home before he later gave me out to a 34 year old man, Chinedu Nweke as husband.
“Unfortunately, life with Chinedu has been hell because he beats me and sometimes after beating me pees in my mouth. I was forced to run away with my 9 months old baby.”
Reacting, Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare, Hon Ify Obinabo directed that the case be charged to court to ensure justice for the victims.
She urged parents to be mindful of their children and direct them properly instead of pushing them to early marriages, which will destroy their lives.
Both Mr. Okoli and Chinedu Nweke were arrested and will be arraigned in court.
