Posted by By NWABUEZE OKONKWO, Onitsha on
The Anambra State Police Command has arrested a woman on charges of child labour, kidnapping and assault occasioning harm.
The Anambra State Police Command has arrested a woman on charges of child labour, kidnapping and assault occasioning harm. According to a reliable source, the woman whose name was given by the police as Affiong Okon, was arrested on October 4 at Onitsha, Anambra State for unlawful possession of seven children.
According to the source, the arrest came shortly after the Police was alerted that the woman was seen pouring hot water on both legs of one of the seven children, with a view to inflicting injury on the child and rendering him disabled so as to attract public sympathy and generous donation.
But luck ran out on her when, on pouring the water, the male victim whose name was also given by the police as Bassey Effiong cried out aloud, which attracted passers-by who quickly alerted the police.
The Assistant Commissioner of Police in-charge of the state CID, Mr. Mohammed Katsina who confirmed the story to Daily Sun, said the suspect is currently in detention adding that she would soon be charged to court after thorough investigations.
Katsina noted that the victim was hospitalised at Amaku General Hospital, Awka, where he was treated and discharged before being taken to the welfare department of the state Ministry of Women Affairs, where he and six other children were moved to.
Katsina also noted that the woman revealed to the police that she picked the victim on the streets of Oron in Akwa Ibom State, adding that parents of two of the seven children had given her their children on daily contract basis of N1,000 each.
He confirmed that the suspect also confessed that she shuttles between Aba, Abia State and Onitsha, where she uses the kidnapped children to beg. Adding that in Aba, she would station them at the High Court premises, while in Onitsha, she opeated at the main bowl of the main market.