Matilda Omonaiye/
Police authorities in Enugu State have arrested one Effiok Umo and his wife, Nnenna Umo, for allegedly brutalising their 12-year-old daughter, Mercy.
Mercy was reportedly brutalised for dozing off while slicing onions to be used for dinner.
Barely two weeks ago, a husband and wife, Jude and Ifeoma Ozougwu, were arrested for allegedly brutalising their 10-year-old domestic help, Nneoma Nnadi, using hot iron and nails.
The latest reportedly happened on July 12 in Ngwo Udi Local Government Area of the state, during which Mercy’s stepmother flogged her with electric cable when she saw her dozing while slicing onions.
NewsmakersNG learnt that Umo has formed a habit of abusing and assaulting the victim at the slightest provocation, using objects such as sticks, electric cables, shoe heels, among other objects in flogging her.
The latest incident was reported to the police, after a neighbour alerted the National Human Rights Commission.
The spokesperson for the Enugu State Police Command, ASP Daniel Ndukwe Ekea, confirmed the incident in a statement yesterday.
Ekea said that police arrested the couple, who hailed from Okwojo Ngwo, Udi LGA of the state following information made available to the command from the public.
He said a preliminary investigation showed that they were used to abusing and assaulting the child.
He said, “The height of it happened on 10/07/2020 at about 2230hrs when the wife, who is the child’s stepmother, abused and assaulted her to the extent of inflicting on her bodily harm on the excuse that she dozed off while slicing onions required for food being prepared the said night.”
He appealed to residents to report any person committing similar crimes to the nearest police station.
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