Mr Uche Mbonu and his wife, Peace, have been arrested for child abuse, starvation and refusal to provide necessities for their five underaged boys in Osumenyi, Nnewi South local government area of the state.
The arrest was carried out by the security operatives in Nnewi South before they were handed over to the police through the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Mrs Ify Obinabo.
On why they starve the kids, the couple denied the allegation and stated that the kids are always in the habit of eating raw rice, which infuriates them.
While pleading for pardon, the couple said that they always feed the kids, but that they prefer eating raw rice, which they said they don’t know where they picked up the habit .
The oldest of the kids, Chigbo Mbonu, revealed that Peace Mbonu is his father’s third wife, and ever since she came into their family, they have continued to face a lot of untold hardships.
Chigbo, who is seventeen years old said that they feed once a day for the days their step mother will give them food, and rely on raw rice and palm kernel to survive .
He further explained that he, at some point, stopped schooling because he helps his father in his block industry, adding that he moulds blocks with four bags of cement on a bad day, and six bags on normal days.
Further physical examination of the children by the Women Affairs Commissioner showed that they have been greatly starved and in need of medical care.
It was gathered that Mr Uche Mbonu has married two wives before finally settling with the third one, Peace, and that the kids are all product of his previous marriages.
Security operatives who helped in apprehending the couple explained that after they got the husband, his wife Peace, ran to her maternal home in Nnewi to hide before they eventually apprehended her too.
Condemning the act, the Women Affairs Commissioner stated that the Soludo led administration will continue to ensure that child labor, abuse and all forms of maltreatment are reduced to the barest minimum.
The couple have been handed over to the police for further investigation and prosecution.
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