Bright Sunday, 12, was freed by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps agents of Akwa Ibom State Command. Her father had reportedly locked her up in a run-down building.
This was revealed on Saturday during a briefing with reporters in Uyo, the state capital, by Mr. Eluyemi Eluwade, the State Commandant of the NSCDC.
According to him, the victim was imprisoned by her father, Ndifreke Sunday, and stepmother, Mrs. Victory Sunday, who is 28 years old and from Ikot Ukporo Idoro Village in the state’s Ibiono Ibom local government area.
He said that the victim’s rescue and subsequent arrest of the suspects followed a complaint from the State Ministry of Justice about the suspects torturing the victim.
As per Section 10 of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law 2020, Eluwade stated that the suspects were taken into custody on charges of child abuse and deprivation.
“The arrest was made on Tuesday, September 10, at Ikot Ukporo Idoro Village in Ibiono Ibom LGA of Akwa Ibom State, following a complaint received from the Ministry of Justice about the suspect subjecting his daughter to inhumane treatment.
“The suspects admitted to locking up the child because she confessed to being a witch and responsible for his afflictions,” Eluwade said.
The victim will be given to the Gender-Based Violence Shelter Home for treatment and rehabilitation, the commandant announced.
condemned the act of subjecting the young girl to inhumane treatment, describing it as barbaric, callous and heinous.
He cautioned parents against engaging in such behavior, no matter how covert, since the government would not back down from capturing violators.
He said that the suspects would be handed over to the appropriate prosecuting agency for necessary action.
Speaking with newsmen about her ordeal, the victim bemoaned being kept confined to a run-down room, denied access to food and water, and regularly beaten by her stepmother.
She added that she was denied education, fed only once every two days, and only permitted to bathe twice a month.
Published by Ejoh Caleb
