A pair, Mr Uche and Mrs Peace Mbonu, have been arrested and handed over to the police for alleged little one abuse, hunger and refusal to supply necessaries for his or her 5 underaged boys within the Osumenyi group, Nnewi South Native Authorities Space of Anambra State.
The arrest was carried out by the safety operatives of the Nnewi South LGA earlier than they have been handed over to the police by way of the state Commissioner for Ladies Affairs and Social Welfare, Ify Obinabo.
This was made recognized on Saturday in a press release by the media aide to the commissioner, Chidimma Ikeanyionwu.
Ikeanyionwu mentioned the couple claimed they have been infuriated as a result of the children have been keen on consuming uncooked rice.
The assertion learn, “On why they starved the children, the couple denied the allegation and said of their defence that the children are at all times within the behavior of consuming uncooked rice, which makes them infuriated.
“Whereas pleading for pardon, the couple mentioned that they at all times feed the children however that the youngsters desire consuming uncooked rice, which they don’t know the place they picked up the behaviour from.
“On his half, the oldest of the children, Chigbo Mbonu, revealed that Peace Mbonu is his father’s third spouse, and ever since she got here into their household, they’ve confronted a number of untold hardship.
“Chigbo Mbonu, who’s presently 17 years outdated, mentioned that they feed as soon as a day for the times their stepmother will give them meals however depend on uncooked rice and palm kernel after starvation should have drastically handled them.
“He went forward to clarify that he, in some unspecified time in the future, stopped education as a result of he helps his father in his block trade. He famous that he moulds blocks with 4 baggage of cement on a nasty day and 6 baggage on regular days.
“Additional bodily examination of the youngsters by the Ladies Affairs commissioner confirmed that they’ve been drastically starved and in want of medical care.
“It is very important notice that Mr Uche Mbonu has married two wives earlier than lastly settling with the third one Peace Mbonu, who was his gross sales lady, and that the children are all product of his earlier marriages.
“Based on the safety operatives who helped in apprehending the culprits, they defined that after they bought the husband, his spouse Peace ran to Nnewi, her maternal house to cover earlier than they finally apprehended her too.”
Whereas reacting to the event, the Commissioner for Ladies Affairs, Ify Obinabo, condemned the act and said that the state authorities will proceed to make sure that little one labour, abuse and all types of maltreatment are diminished to the barest minimal.
The couple has since been handed over to the police for additional investigation, after which the matter shall be charged to court docket.