Chinedu Adim, 33, has been detained for reportedly hitting his 8-year-old daughter into a coma in Awka, the capital of Anambra State.
Mr Adim, a commercial tricycle operator from Lokpa in Abia State, claims his wife abandoned him and their two children.
According to witnesses, the suspect has been using heavy drugs since his wife left, which normally prompts him to brutalize his daughter, who is currently on life support after being beaten into a coma on Tuesday, August 15, 2023.
During interrogation, the suspect, however, disputed the claims, portraying the daughter’s horrible experience as spiritual.
The suspect, who stated that he was a previous member of the Anambra Vigilante Group (AVG) before delving into the Keke business, married twelve years ago and has two children, a girl, Blessing, who is now eight years old, and a boy, who is six years old.
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He also mentioned that his wife left him eight years ago after his shop burned down.
When questioned about what happened to the daughter, he stated that the 8-year-old awoke one morning with injuries on her body, which he saw while bathing her.
He questioned her, and she replied she didn’t know how she got the scars, noting that she woke up with lines on her body.
He stated that this had happened three times in a row before she was finally brought to Odumegwu Ojukwu Teaching Hospital Amaku Awka, where she lapsed into a coma and has been on life support ever since.
In response, the state Women and Social Welfare Commissioner, Hon Ify Obinabo, stated that the report she received stated that the culprit battered the victim into a coma, categorizing his story as a folk tale.
She said that the girl has been in the hospital since Tuesday after the father beat her to a stupor, claiming she was beaten in the dream. He had assumed she would die to cover his tracks.
Mrs Obinabo consequently advised parents to be aware of the disciplinary measures they use on their children in order to avoid injuring them, while also encouraging parents and guardians to use punishment appropriate to the child’s age.
While expressing her Ministry’s willingness to give the victim medical attention in order for her to survive, Obinabo stated that the suspect would be turned over to police for further questioning and prosecution.