The Imo State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of a 26-year- old woman, Victoria Nwosu, for allegedly abusing and enslaving her three stepchildren.
A video footage had gone viral on the internet where the three minors were seen chained and made to undergo mental and physical tortures.
A concerned citizen, who made the video, called on groups to come to the rescue of the children.
Subsequently, the state chapter of the International Federation Of Women Lawyers swung into action, which led to the arrest of the woman and her husband.
Confirming the arrest of the couple, the Police Spokesperson in the state, Micheal Abattam, said that the children had been rescued and a medical team attended to them.
He assured that the couple would be charged to court at the end of the investigation.
The police spokesperson said, “Sequel to a report on child Slavery/Abuse received on June 17, at about 1400 hours, received by the police from a Good Samaritan, residing at World Bank, Owerri, the Divisional Police Officer in charge of New Owerri Divisional Police Headquarters, swiftly mobilised a team of policemen including the officer in charge of Juvenile Welfare Center to the scene at World Bank area.
“On arrival, the police operatives went into the identified house where they found a malnourished child, later identified as Kelechi Nwosu, seven years old, in an uncompleted security post, his two legs chained and locked with two padlocks. The child was immediately rescued alongside two other children – Destiny Nwosu, age 11 years, and Chinemerie Nwosu, age 9 years, all looking unkept and malnourished.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that the child was chained by his stepmother, Mrs. Victoria Nwosu ‘f’, age 26 years. The father of the three children, Mr. Chimezie Nwosu ‘m’, age 30 years, seeing his wife maltreating the children, never showed concern nor cautioned his wife. It was also discovered that the three rescued children were left by Mr. Victor Nwosu’s estranged wife.
“On rescuing the children, the police operatives immediately rushed them to a nearby government hospital where they were treated and discharged. However, they were later handed over to a government-recognised orphanage home where they would be taken care of pending when their mother would be located.
“Meanwhile, the two suspects are presently in the police custody undergoing interrogation and they will be charged to court as soon as the investigation is concluded.”