The Anambra State Government, through the Ministry of Women and Social Welfare, has saved Chidiebere Otenyi from domestic abuse in Ezinifite, Aguata Local Government Area of the state.
Martha Umenweke, who is in her late 60s, has been arrested and handed over to the police for further questioning and prosecution at the Children, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Magistrate court in Awka.
Chidimma Ikeanyionwu, the Media Aide to the Anambra State Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare, Ify Obinabo, stated on Friday that this information was disclosed in a statement.
Ikeanyionwu mentioned that the victim was rescued after someone reported the incident to the ministry.
The statement indicated, “Anambra State Government, through the Ministry of Women and Social Welfare, has saved Chidiebere Otenyi, another victim of domestic abuse in Ezinifite, Aguata Local Government Area of the state.
They did this after a person who witnessed the incident reported it to the commissioner.
“In reaction, in her office in Awka, after the ministry's team had rescued the girl, Obinabo, who was very angry about the cruel act, vowed to take action against the culprit, Mrs Martha Umenweke.
“Obinabo, who was upset about the harm done to the girl, said that the perpetrator wouldn’t get away with it since she had the intention to cause harm to another person.
“The victim, a 19-year-old Chidiebere Otenyi from Nkanu, Enugu State, stated that her employer accused her of stealing her N25,000, which she denied, and that's what led to the severe beating.
“Chidiebere, who was still in pain at the time of the rescue, mentioned that she’s been living with Martha for a year and four months, but she gets severely punished for the smallest things, especially being starved.
“Further questioning revealed that the 19-year-old is still in Primary 3, and according to her, her boss was the one who lowered her in class when she arrived.”
Ikeanyionwu explained that during questioning, Umenweke said she punished the maid for stealing her money.
“Martha Umenweke, who is in her late 60s, claimed that Chidiebere stole her money, which is why she brutalized her.”
“It was also discovered during the rescue that Martha had help from a man named Mr David, who tied up the girl's hands and legs after she had been beaten,” added Ikeanyionwu.
Ikeanyionwu stated that the case had been handed over to the police for further questioning and prosecution at the Children, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Magistrate court in Awka.
In February, a lawyer from Anambra State named Adachukwu O was accused of mistreating her 11-year-old house help, Happiness Nwafor, by using various objects, such as a broken bottle, knife, and electric iron, in response to an incident involving her daughter.
The Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, became involved in this matter and offered a N2m reward for Adachukwu's capture after she went into hiding, which led to her surrendering to the police a few days later.
