Anambra governor’s wife, Mrs Nonye Soludo, has condemned the violent abuse of a child maid by her guardian at G.R.A, Onitsha.
The governor’s wife, was reacting to a viral video of a girl of about nine years who appeared in the video with gory iron-stamp burns all over her body, allegedly inflicted on her by her guardian, on Mrs Adachukwu Okafor now at large.
The alleged culprit, now at large, was said to be living with the maid at her Akpaka, 33 G.R.A, Onitsha residence, and got enraged when the maid, who was bathing her boy child allegedly touched the child’s penis.
A source who pleaded anonymity said, “It was then that Mrs Okafor, said to be a legal practitioner and a pastor in a local church, used everything within her reach, including a charged laundry iron, to feast on the maid.”
“She was shouting to onlookers while manhandling the child that she is a lawyer; nothing will happen to her”, the source said.
Speaking shortly after directing the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare to take custody of the child and begin immediate treatment on her wounds and also conduct tests to ascertain if she sustained internal injuries, Mrs Soludo described the guardian’s act as barbaric, and heinous and vowed to ensure that justice is served.
She expressed deep sadness about the current condition of the girl and called on anyone who had information on how to get hold of the fleeing guardian to open up as a matter of conscience and right reasons.
The governor’s wife, while stating that the state remains a red zone for abusers and those who take every opportunity to pounce on the rights of women and children, noted that the government would not leave no stone unturned in dealing with anyone who had no respect for human dignity.
Mrs Soludo further re-echoed her appeal for parents to take serious consideration of their child’s age before giving them out as maids or servants and to also know the temperaments of their child’s guardian.