A resident of Anambra State, Uzochukwu Okoli, has threatened to deal with his daughters unless he dies in prison.
This is coming after one of his daughters, whose name is Chioma, aged 16, reported him to the Anambra State Ministry of Women and Social Welfare for forcefully marrying her off to one Mr. Chinedu Nweke, age 34. This report led to the arrest of him and Chinedu Nweke.
In a statement issued by the media aide to the state Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare, Ify Obinabo, on Thursday, May 2, 2024, Chidimma Ikeanyionwu said the girl told the ministry that after the death of their mother, their father brought them back from Edo State, where they were schooling, and married her off.
“She alleged that she was first forced to live with a 70-year-old man at the age of 14, but after some time, she ran back to her father’s house before he finally gave her out to a 34-year-old Chinedu Nweke as wife.
“Chioma, who also came with her elder sister, explained that life with the said husband has been a ‘living hell’ because he beats her and sometimes, after beating her, pees in her mouth, and that made her run away with her nine-month-old baby.
“Her father, Uzochukwu Okoli, on the other hand, claimed his daughter is 18 years old and, at some point, said 20 years.
“Okoli, when he was handcuffed, threatened to deal with the daughters if he made it out of prison. He also urged them to pray he dies in prison because he will make life more miserable for them,” the statement reads.
Reacting to the development, Obinabo instructed that the case be charged to court so that the children could get justice.
She used the medium to urge parents to be mindful of their children and direct them properly instead of pushing them into early marriages, which will destroy their lives.
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