The Enugu State Government, in collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force, has arrested a woman, Ogechi John, over the alleged killing of her 9-year-old stepdaughter, Ogechi Amanda John, in the Emene area of Enugu.
The suspect, said to be an indigene of Oderiko in Ikwo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, was reportedly apprehended on Monday following the incident, which allegedly occurred on Sunday afternoon at their residence in Nchatancha, Emene.
Residents of the area alleged that the child died after being severely beaten by her stepmother around 3pm on Sunday.
Neighbours also claimed that the deceased had allegedly endured repeated abuse and maltreatment before the tragic incident.
Reacting to the development, the Commissioner for Children, Gender Affairs and Social Development in Enugu State, Ngozi Enih, condemned the alleged killing and vowed that the government would ensure justice was served.
According to her, the administration of Governor Peter Mbah maintains zero tolerance for child abuse and violence against minors.
“It is on record that the Governor Peter Mbah administration has zero tolerance for any form of child abuse, let alone child homicide. So, we swung into action on learning about this tragedy to ensure that the suspect was arrested,” she stated.
Enih added that the state government would push for a thorough and speedy investigation to ensure those responsible face the full weight of the law.
She stressed that no individual had the right to take another person’s life, especially that of a child, noting that the incident had been strongly condemned by the government.
The commissioner further assured residents that the government would continue to work closely with security agencies to protect children and prosecute perpetrators of abuse.
As of the time of filing this report, the police had yet to release an official statement on the incident.
