Enugu Woman Arrested Over Alleged Killing of Stepdaughter

The Enugu State Government has confirmed the arrest of a woman, Mrs Ogechi John, over the alleged killing of her nine-year-old stepdaughter, Amanda John, in Enugu East Local Government Area of the state.

In a statement shared on the WhatsApp media platform of Governor Peter Mbah on Monday, the government said the suspect, an indigene of Oderiko in Ikwo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, was apprehended by operatives of the Nigeria Police Force.

The statement alleged that the child was beaten to death at the family’s residence in Nchatancha, Emene, on Sunday afternoon.

According to accounts from neighbours cited in the statement, the late Amanda had allegedly suffered repeated maltreatment from the suspect before the incident occurred around 3pm.

Reacting to the development, the Commissioner for Children, Gender Affairs and Social Development, Ngozi Enih, said the state government would ensure justice was served.

“It is on record that the Governor Peter Mbah administration has zero tolerance for any form of child abuse, let alone child homicide. We swung into action immediately upon learning of this tragedy to ensure the suspect was arrested,” Enih said.

She added that the government would closely monitor the legal process to ensure the matter was handled swiftly.

“We will be pressing for a thorough and expedited investigation to ensure that justice is not just done, but done swiftly. Nobody should take another person’s life, especially that of a child in Enugu State. We condemn the act in totality,” she added.

The government also reiterated its commitment to protecting children and warned that anyone found involved in child abuse or violence would face prosecution.

Mrs John remains in police custody while investigations continue.

However, authorities did not disclose the police division handling the matter or the exact cause of the child’s death.