Abia: Man arrested over alleged child abuse

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Nigeria Police

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—Police transfer case to SCID for investigation

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By Ugochukwu Alaribe

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UMUAHIA — The Abia State Police Command has arrested a man identified as Uzoma Uwaeme over the alleged abuse of his 13-year-old son in Aba.

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The arrest followed public outrage over a video of the incident that went viral on social media.

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In the video, the boy was allegedly tied with a rope, stripped naked and severely flogged, leaving him with injuries before he was reportedly left exposed to the sun.

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In a statement, the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Abia State Command, DSP Maureen Chinaka, said the command moved to arrest the suspect after being alerted to the video.

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According to her, following a directive from the Commissioner of Police, CP Wilfred Olutokunbo Afolabi, operatives attached to the Abayi Divisional Police Headquarters arrested Uwaeme, a resident of Nwokocha Street, off Udeabara Road, Aba.

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The commissioner condemned the alleged treatment of the child, describing it as “inhumane, barbaric and a gross violation of the rights of the child.”

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The command reiterated its zero-tolerance stance on child abuse and domestic violence, stressing that the suspect would be prosecuted in accordance with the law.

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Chinaka said the case had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further investigation, while the suspect remained in police custody.

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She added that the 13-year-old victim was receiving medical attention and was in stable condition as of the time of filing the report.

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