- A couple in Anambra State has been arrested for subjecting their five-year-old daughter to starvation based on accusations of witchcraft
- Mrs. Ify Obinabo, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, announced the arrest during a press briefing on Thursday
The Anambra State Government has reported the arrest of a couple who, based on accusations of witchcraft, subjected their five-year-old daughter to starvation.
Mrs. Ify Obinabo, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare in the state, informed the press about the arrest, confirming the incident on Thursday.
The mother of the victim, Mrs. Blessing Wosu, admitted to the wrongdoing, explaining that she acted upon her pastor’s prophecy, which labeled her five-year-old daughter as a witch and unworthy of continued life.
“It is our pastor who gave us a prophecy that she is a witch and does not deserve to live. We were told that she is responsible for her father’s downfall in business,” she said.
Additionally, Wowu explained that she resorted to having her daughter sleep on a wooden plank because of the child’s frequent urination and defecation.
The arrest of the couple took place in Adazi-Ani, specifically in the Anaocha Local Government Area of the state.
Commissioner Obinabo clarified that she became involved in the case following reports from Mr. Gerald Ozoh, the Transition Committee Chairman of Anaocha LGA, and Mrs. Chinwe Uba, the state coordinator of Ladies of Good Governance.
She emphasized that her primary duty is to safeguard the rights of every child in the state and assured that the accused individuals would not escape legal consequences.
“The girl is receiving treatments at the hospital while her parents will be handed over to the police for further investigation,” she added.