The Anambra State Government said it has apprehended one Uzochukwu Okoli for giving out his 16-year-old daughter in marriage.
Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare, Mrs. Ify Obinabo, told newsmen on Thursday in Awka that Okoli was arrested after his daughter reported to the ministry.
Obinabo said that the 16-year-old who came with her sister to report to the ministry, alleged that her father and the man she was forced to marry maltreated her.
The 16-year-old girl told journalists that after the death of their mother, their father brought her and her siblings back from Edo State where they were residing. The purpose was to marry them off, she alleged.
She alleged that she was once forced to live with a 70-year-old man when she was 14 years old.
“After living with the 70-year-old man for sometime, I ran back to my father’s house before he finally gave me out to Chinedu Nweke as my husband.
“Life with Chinedu has been a living hell because he beats me and sometimes, after beating me, he will pee in my mouth.
“That was why I ran away with my nine-month-old baby to report,” she said.
During questioning, the suspect, Okoli, initially claimed his daughter was 18 years old and at another time he said she was 20.
He threatened to deal with the daughters if he made it out of prison.
“Just pray I die in prison because if I come out, I will make life miserable for you people for reporting me,” he said.
“Following receipt of the allegation, the ministry immediately took action to identify and apprehend the father and the 34-year-old husband known as Chinedu Nweke.
“The suspects would be handed over to the police for further investigations and charged to court so that the children can get justice,” Obinabo added.
The commissioner urge parents to prioritise the upbringing of their children, especially the girl-child rather than pushing them to early marriage.(NAN)
