The Anambra State government through the security operatives, has arrested a mother and her two children for beating their 75-year-old father, identified as Romanus Obidigwe.
PUNCH Metro gathered that the culprits, Esther Obidigwe, Ozioma Obidigwe and Obuka Obidigwe, committed the crime in Awba-Ofemmili community in the Awka North Local Government Area of Anambra State.
This was disclosed in a statement on Wednesday by Chidimma Ikeanyionwu, the Media Aide to the state Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Ify Obinabo.
Ikeanyionwu said the arrest was done after the victim reported to the ministry, adding that he had been suffering a series of batterings from his family members.
The statement read, “The Anambra State Government through the security operatives, has arrested one Esther Obidigwe, Ozioma Obidigwe, and Obuka Obidigwe for beating their 75-year-old father, Romanus Obidigwe.
“Sharing his experience with his family at the office of the Commissioner of Women Affairs, Obidigwe, a retired senior civil servant, stated that his family had been in the habit of beating him constantly.
“But what caused that particular incident was that his daughter, Ozioma, sold his firewood without his consent and when he tried to know why she did so, they pounced on him, tied him up and used a rod in inflicting injuries on him.
“Obidigwe further revealed that the trio had since stopped feeding him which he had accepted in good fate and that they usually stole from him, especially his first son, Obuka, who had gone to the local government where he retired from to claim his benefits.
The victim bitterly lamented that it was for the sake of peace that he gave in to his wife’s compulsory ‘no sexual relationship’ since 2000.
He also noted that it took the intervention of a neighbour before they stopped, after which they locked him out of his compound.
“During questioning on why they inflicted injuries on their father, his son, Obuka, denied being present when the incident happened, while his wife, Esther, confessed to the crime whereas the daughter alleged that it was what the father wanted to do to her that turned against him,” the statement revealed.
Reacting to the development, Obinabo, who was visibly angry over the dastardly act, promised to make sure the victim got justice.
She, therefore, warned every member of society to desist from crime saying the present administration was out to make sure the oppressed would get justice.
She insisted that her ministry was not only meant for women and children but also instituted for the social welfare of everyone.
As of the time of writing this report, the trio had been handed over to the police where they would be further interrogated and charged to court.
