A 33-year-old man, Chinedu Adim has been arrested for allegedly beating his 8-year-old year daughter to a coma in Awka, the Anambra State capital.
Mr. Adim, a commercial tricycle operator who is a native of Lokpa in Abia State said his wife abandoned him with two of their children.
Witnesses alleged that the suspect has been using hard substances since his wife left, which usually triggers him to brutalize the daughter, who is currently on life support after he beat her to a stupour on Tuesday, August 15, 2023.
The suspect however denied the allegations during interrogation, describing the daughter’s ugly experience as spiritual.
The suspect who revealed that he was a former member of Anambra Vigilante Group (AVG) before venturing into the Keke business, got married twelve years ago with two kids, a girl, Blessing, now 8 years and a boy, 6 years.
He also noted that his wife left him 8 years ago after his shop got burnt.
When asked what happened to the daughter, he replied that the 8-year-old woke up one morning with Injuries on her body but he was able to observe that while bathing her.
According to him, he queried her, and she said she didn’t know how she came about the scars, noting that she woke up to see lines on her body.
He claimed that this has been a reoccurring event for three consecutive times before she was finally rushed to Odumegwu Ojukwu Teaching Hospital Amaku Awka where she went into a coma and ever since has been on life support.
Reacting, the state Women and Social Welfare Commissioner, Hon Ify Obinabo said the report she got said the suspect beat the victim to coma, describing his narrative as folk tales.
She said that the girl has been in the hospital since Tuesday after the father beat her to stupor, claiming she was beaten in the dream. He had thought she would die to cover his actions.
Mrs. Obinabo therefore urged parents to be mindful of the type of disciplinary measures they give to their children to avoid hurting them even as she encouraged parents and guardians to give punishment according to the age of the child.
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.