,,,,Mother calls for justice.
By Mimi Chiadikobi in Awkra.
Mrs Eucharia Okpalannadi,a 58- year-old woman, has called for justice over the defilement of her 3 years old daughter by her husband, named withheld.
Eucharia made the call to Anambra State Government through the Ministry of Women Affairs Commissioner, Mrs Ify Obianbo on Wednesday in Awka.
She appealed to the government to save her soul, adding that she now lives in fear due to threat to her life by her husband for exposing his alleged defilement of their minor in Onitsha, Anambra state.
Mrs.Okpalannadi said she decided to expose her husband’s unholy act due to his unrepentant heart and continued willingness to remain in same act.
The house wife of Amesi in Aguata Local Government Area of the State who recalled that she contracted her marriage with husband in Achina, more than 20 years ago,said that her husband took advantage of his closeness with the minor to do the act.
She revealed that their 25-year old marriage produced five children, a son (victim’s twin brother) and four daughters, 25, 24, 17 and 3 years.
She said she earlier dismissed her daughter’s initial complain of sexual abuse as mere joke until she became persistent about her daddy’s uncompletary attitude towards her.
She said: “My daughter, Chimamanda has complained that her daddy has been touching her personal place .
“Initially, I thought it was a joke and rebuked her to stop that expensive joke.
“But because she has been close to the dad, I needed to observe her much closer and in the process,discovered that her private part appeared reddish. “But when I called the father’s attention, he denied.
“I have to take her to the hospital where the doctor confirmed she was truly defiled. He even threatened to arrest my husband but l pleaded he should not.
“It was when my friends started inquiring about the matter and insisting that I should no longer hide the act that I decided to report the matter to Ministry of Women Affairs.”
The visibly devastated woman ,however, decried that her life had been in danger since after the exposure.
“My husband is hard, wicked and cruel. It became worse when he joined agboro and started smoking Indian hemp. He has even served jail terms abroad. He can kill.
“I want him arrested because he has spoilt my daughter. If he’s not arrested, he may kill me, kill the daughter and kill himself for exposing his ignoble act.
“I have been hiding since the case became public due to fear of being killed by my husband.
“I am too scared of him now because his newest character is to scary which left me to wonder what went wrong with the man I married many years back.
” My daughter and I have gone into hiding for safety and we are comfortable where we are presently and we are being taken care of by the State government.
” I am grateful to Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra state, through the Women Commissioner,Ify Obianbo who offered shelter to us,” she said.
Reacting,to the issue, the Commissioner described the incident as terrible and unfortunate, assuring that efforts were on to apprehend the fleeing suspect , adding that no distraction would divert the state government’s commitment to give justice to the minor .
Obianbo who disclosed that she received the information a couple of days ago, described the act as a terrible experience and as a sensitive matter which has to do with security of life, adding that the Ministry is handling the issue with caution.
“Although the suspect is still at large, we won’t rest on our oars until he is arrested. We’ll definitely ensure that justice is served to those who deserve it,” she stressed.
Meanwhile, Federal Government has placed a N1 billion bounty on the suspect.
The Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs. Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, announced the measure in a statement issued on Wednesday by Head of Information and Public Relations in the ministry, Mrs. Grace Njoku.
She said: “The ministry received a report that Okpalannadi, a resident of Onitsha, Anambra State, has been sexually molesting his little daughter.
“When he was found out, he disappeared before he could be apprehended.
“President Bola Tinubu-led administration has zero tolerance for child abuse and molestation.
The Minister promised immediate prosecution of the man when arrested to serve as a deterrent to would-be perpetrators.
