Couple Arrested For Starving And Abusing Five Sons

A couple has been detained and turned over to police in the Osumenyi community, Nnewi South Local Government Area, Anambra State, for the maltreatment of their five underage sons.

Mr Uche and Mrs Peace Mbonu are accused of child maltreatment, malnutrition, and failing to provide basics for their five underage sons.

The arrest was made by Nnewi South LGA security personnel, who were then handed over to the police by the state Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Ify Obinabo.

On Saturday, June 29, the commissioner’s media aide, Chidimma Ikeanyionwu, issued a statement.

The statement read, “On why they starved the kids, the couple denied the allegation and stated in their defence that the kids are always in the habit of eating raw rice, which makes them infuriated.

“While pleading for pardon, the couple said that they always feed the kids but that the children prefer eating raw rice, which they don’t know where they picked up the behaviour from.

“On his part, the oldest of the kids, Chigbo Mbonu, revealed that Peace Mbonu is his father’s third wife, and ever since she came into their family, they have faced a lot of untold hardship.

“Chigbo Mbonu, who is currently 17 years old, said that they feed once a day for the days their stepmother will give them food but rely on raw rice and palm kernel after hunger must have greatly dealt with them.”

He went on to say that he had stopped attending school at one point in order to assist his father with his block manufacturing. He stated that he moulds blocks with four bags of cement on bad days and six bags on good days.

“Further physical examination of the children by the Women Affairs commissioner showed that they have been greatly starved and in need of medical care.

“It is important to note that Mr Uche Mbonu has married two wives before finally settling with the third one Peace Mbonu, who was his sales girl, and that the kids are all product of his previous marriages.

“According to the security operatives who helped in apprehending the culprits, they explained that after they got the husband, his wife Peace ran to Nnewi, her maternal home to hide before they eventually apprehended her too.”

In response to the development, Ify Obinabo, Commissioner for Women Affairs, criticised the act and emphasised that the state government will continue to guarantee that child work, abuse, and other types of mistreatment are kept to a bare minimum.

The couple has subsequently been turned over to police for additional investigation, after which the case will be charged in court.

A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.

Nnamdi Okoli