The Enugu State Government, in collaboration with the police, has arrested a woman identified as Ogechi John over the alleged killing of her nine-year-old stepdaughter, Ogechi Amanda John, in the Emene area of Enugu metropolis.
The suspect, said to be from Ikwo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, was reportedly apprehended on Monday following the incident which occurred on Sunday at their residence in Nchatancha, Emene.
Residents alleged that the child died after she was severely beaten by her stepmother around 3pm on Sunday.
Neighbours also claimed that the deceased had allegedly been subjected to repeated abuse and maltreatment before the tragic incident.
Reacting to the development, the Enugu State Commissioner for Children, Gender Affairs and Social Development, Ngozi Enih, condemned the incident, describing it as unacceptable and assuring that the government would pursue justice for the deceased child.
She said the administration of Governor Peter Mbah maintains zero tolerance for child abuse and violence against minors.
“It is on record that the Governor Peter Mbah administration has zero tolerance for any form of child abuse, let alone child homicide. So, we swung into action on learning about this tragedy to ensure that the suspect was arrested,” she said.
Enih added that the state government would ensure a thorough and speedy investigation into the matter.
“But it doesn’t end there. We will be pressing for thorough and expedited investigation to ensure that justice is not just done, but done really fast.
“Nobody should take another’s life and certainly not the life of any child in Enugu State. We condemn it in totality,” she added.
The commissioner further stated that the government would continue to collaborate with security agencies to safeguard children and ensure perpetrators of abuse are prosecuted.
As of the time of filing this report, the police authorities had yet to issue an official statement on the incident.
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