The Anambra State Government through the Ministry of Women and Social Welfare, has rescued one Chidiebere Otenyi, a victim of domestic abuse residing in Ezinifite in Aguata Local Government Area of the state.
The culprit, Martha Umenweke, in her late 60s, has been arrested and handed over to the police for further interrogation and prosecution at the Children, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Magistrate court in Awka.
This was disclosed in a statement by Chidimma Ikeanyionwu, the Media Aide to the Anambra State Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare, Ify Obinabo, today.
Ikeanyionwu said the victim was rescued after a whistleblower brought the development to the attention of the ministry.
The statement reads, “Anambra State Government through the Ministry of Women and Social Welfare has rescued one Chidiebere Otenyi, another victim of domestic abuse in Ezinifite, Aguata Local Government Area of the state.
“This they did when a whistle-blower who witnessed the ugly incident brought it to the attention of the commissioner.
“Reacting in her office, in Awka, after the team sent from the ministry had rescued the girl, Obinabo, who was furious over the dastardly act vowed to deal with the perpetrator, Mrs Martha Umenweke.
“Obinabo, who was angry over the extent of damage given to the girl, stated that the culprit wouldn’t go scot-free since she had the mind to inflict injuries and pain on another person.
“The victim, a 19-year-old Chidiebere Otenyi from Nkanu, Enugu State, said that her madam accused her of stealing her N25,000, which she said she did not steal and that prompted her to beat her to a pulp.
“Chidiebere, who was still in pain at the time of the rescue, said she’s lived with Martha for a year and four months, but she gets severely punished at the slightest provocation especially being starved.
“Upon further questioning, it was discovered that the 19-year-old is still in Primary 3, which, according to her, her boss was the one who demoted her in class when she came.”
Ikeanyionwu explained that during interrogation, Umenweke said she punished the maid for stealing her money.
“On why she brutalised her ward, Martha Umenweke, who is in her late 60s, claimed that Chidiebere stole her money, hence the meeting.
“It was also gathered during the rescue that Martha had an alibi one, Mr David, who, after she had beaten the girl, helped tie up her hands and legs,” Ikeanyionwu added
Ikeanyionwu said the case had been handed over to the police for further interrogation and prosecution at the Children, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Magistrate court in Awka.
In February, an Anambra State-based lawyer, Adachukwu O, was accused of abusing her 11-year-old house help, Happiness Nwafor, with various objects, like a broken bottle, knife, and electric iron to harm her house help, in response to an incident involving her daughter.
The matter drew the attention of the Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, who placed a N2m bounty on Adachukwu, after she went into hiding, causing her to surrender herself to the police a few days later.
