By Praise Chinecherem
A 58-year old woman, Eucharia Okpalannadi has raised alarm over threat to life by her husband for exposing his alleged defilement of their 3-year old daughter in Onitsha, Anambra State.
The woman, a native of Amesi in Aguata Local Government Area of the State but married in Achina, said the husband, Magnus Okpalannadi took advantage of his closeness to the minor to defile her.
She revealed that their 25-year old marriage had produced five children, a son (victim’s twin brother) and four daughters, 25, 24, 17 and 3 years respectively.
Narrating her ordeal with reporters on Tuesday at the Ministry of Women Affairs, Eucharia said she had dismissed her daughter’s initial complaint of sexual abuse as mere joke until she became persistent.
She said, “My daughter, Chimamanda has complained that her daddy has been touching her bombom. Initially, I thought it was a joke and rebuked her to stop that expensive joke.
“But because she has been close to the dad, I needed to observe her much closer and discovered her private part appeared reddish. But when I called the father’s attention, he denied.
“I had to take her to the hospital where the doctor confirmed she was truly defiled. He even threatened to arrest my husband but I l pleaded he should not.
“It was when my friends started inquiring about the matter and insisting I should no longer hide the act that I decided to report the matter to Ministry of Women Affairs.”
The visibly devastated woman however decried that her life had been in danger since after the exposure.
“My husband is hard, wicked and cruel. It became worse when he joined agboro and started smoking Indian hemp. He had even served jail terms abroad. He can kill.
“I want him arrested because he has spoilt my daughter. If he’s not arrested, he may kill me, kill the daughter and kill himself.
“I’m comfortable where I am presently being taken care of by the State government. That my husband is yet to be arrested doesn’t mean the Commissioner doesn’t know what she’s doing. People should allow her to work,” she added.
Reacting, Commissioner for Women Affairs, Ify Obinabo described the incident as terrible and unfortunate, assuring that efforts were on to apprehend the fleeing suspect.
“I received the information last weekend. It’s a terrible experience. As a sensitive matter which has to do with security, we’re trading with caution.
“Although the suspect is still at large, we won’t rest on our oars until he is arrested. We’ll definitely ensure that justice is served to those who deserve it,” she stressed.
Meanwhile, Federal Government has placed a N1 billion bounty on the suspect.
Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs. Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, announced the measure in a statement issued on Wednesday by Head of Information and Public Relations in the ministry, Mrs. Grace Njoku.
She said: “The ministry received a report that Okpalannadi, a resident of Onitsha, Anambra State, has been sexually molesting his little daughter.
“When he was found out, he disappeared before he could be apprehended.
“President Bola Tinubu-led administration has zero tolerance for child abuse and molestation.
”Hence would ensure the immediate immediate prosecution of the peadophile to serve as a deterrent to would-be perpetrators.”
