The police have arrested a man and his new wife for abusing three children from his previous marriage in their home located at the World Bank area in Owerri, Imo State on Saturday, June 18.
A statement released by the state police command’s spokesperson, CSP Michael Abattam, said the parents were arrested after a good Samaritan who saw the state of the children, filmed and shared a video showing how one of the children was chained while the other two were left unattended to. It was also gathered that the children were prevented from going to school.
Abattam stated that the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of New Owerri Divisional Police Headquarters Owerri, Imo State mobilized a team of policemen including the Officer in charge of Juvenile Welfare Centre (JWC ) to the scene.
“On arrival the police operatives went into the identified house where they found a malnourished child, later identified as Kelechi Nwosu, age 7 years, in an uncompleted security post, his two legs chained and locked with two padlocks. The child was immediately rescued alongside two other children-Destiny Nwosu aged 11 years and Chinemerie Nwosu aged 9 years all looking unkempt and malnourished.
Preliminary investigation revealed that the child was chained by his stepmother Mrs. Victoria Nwosu ‘f’ age 26 years. The father of the three children, Mr Chimezie Nwosu ‘m’ age 30 years seeing his wife maltreating the child never showed concern or cautioned his wife. It was also discovered that the three rescued children were left by Mr. Victor Nwosu’s estranged wife,” Abattam said.
The police spokesperson added that on rescuing the children the police operatives immediately rushed them to a nearby government hospital where they were treated and discharged. However, they were later handed over to a government-recognized Orphanage Home where they will be well taken care of pending when their mother is located.
The police added that the two suspects are presently in police custody undergoing interrogation and they will be charged to court as soon as the investigation is concluded.
