Fidelia Soriwei, Abuja
The Enugu State Police Command has arrested Mrs. Ogechi John over the alleged killing of her nine-year-old stepdaughter, Amanda John, in a case that has triggered outrage across the state.
The arrest was confirmed on Monday in a statement shared via Governor Peter Mbah’s WhatsApp media platform, which also identified the suspect as an indigene of Oderiko in Ikwo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
According to the statement, the suspect was taken into custody on Monday morning following the death of the child, who was allegedly beaten at their residence in Nchatancha, Emene, Enugu East Local Government Area.
Neighbours were quoted as saying the incident occurred around 3pm on Sunday, adding that the deceased child had allegedly endured repeated and severe maltreatment before her death.
The Enugu State Commissioner for Children, Gender Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Ngozi Enih, condemned the incident, describing it as unacceptable and assuring that the government would pursue justice to its conclusion.
“It is on record that the Governor Peter Mbah administration has zero tolerance for any form of child abuse, let alone child homicide. We swung into action immediately upon learning of this tragedy to ensure the suspect was arrested,” she stated.
Enih added that the government would closely follow the investigation and ensure accountability.
“We will be pressing for a thorough and expedited investigation to ensure that justice is not just done, but done really fast. Nobody should take another’s life, and certainly not the life of any child in Enugu State. We condemn it in totality,” she said.
Authorities confirmed that the suspect remains in police custody as investigations continue into the circumstances surrounding the child’s death.
