A couple, Mr. Uche and Mrs. Peace Mbonu, have been arrested in the Osumenyi community, Nnewi South Local Government Area of Anambra State, for allegedly abusing and starving their five young sons.
The arrest was executed by security operatives of Nnewi South LGA and the couple was subsequently handed over to the police through the state Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Ify Obinabo.
This information was disclosed on Saturday in a statement by the media aide to the commissioner, Chidimma Ikeanyionwu.
According to Ikeanyionwu, the couple claimed they were upset because the children had a habit of eating raw rice.
The statement read, “On why they starved the kids, the couple denied the allegation and stated in their defense that the kids are always in the habit of eating raw rice, which makes them infuriated.
While pleading for pardon, the couple said that they always feed the kids but that the children prefer eating raw rice, which they don’t know where they picked up the behavior from.”
The oldest of the children, Chigbo Mbonu, revealed that Peace Mbonu is his father’s third wife, and since her arrival, they have experienced severe hardship.
The 17-year-old disclosed that they typically ate once a day, only when their stepmother provided food, and often relied on raw rice and palm kernel due to extreme hunger.
Chigbo also mentioned that he had to stop schooling to help his father in his block industry, molding blocks with four to six bags of cement daily.
A physical examination by the Women Affairs commissioner confirmed that the children were severely malnourished and in need of medical care.
It was noted that Mr. Uche Mbonu had been married twice before and that the children are from his previous marriages. Peace Mbonu, his current wife, was formerly his salesgirl.
The security operatives reported that after arresting the husband, his wife Peace fled to her maternal home in Nnewi but was eventually apprehended as well.
Reacting to the incident, Commissioner Ify Obinabo condemned the couple’s actions and affirmed the state government’s commitment to reducing child labor, abuse, and maltreatment to the barest minimum.
The couple has been handed over to the police for further investigation, and the case will be charged to court.
Subscribe to National Updates for more News
