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The Nigeria Police Force recently paraded Anambra-based lawyer, Adachukwu Okafor, who was apprehended for allegedly assaulting her 10-year-old househelp. The police had declared the lawyer wanted and placed a N2m bounty on her for reportedly using a red-hot knife, an electric pressing iron, and other weapons to brutalize the underage househelp.

The Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumiyiwa Adejobi, addressed the press at the Force Criminal Investigation Department in Abuja, stating that it was a case of attempted murder and child abuse. Adejobi explained that the househelp had only worked for two weeks at the suspect’s house before the incident occurred.

The suspect alleged that she saw the househelp fondling her six-year-old son while bathing him, leading to the brutal assault. The suspect tied the househelp’s hands, mouth, and flogged her. She also inserted a hot knife into her private part, poured ground pepper into it, and used an electric iron on her cheek and buttocks. The househelp was then locked in the toilet without food for an extended period.

The aunt of the househelp raised the alarm after the suspect returned the injured househelp to her. Passersby recorded the incident and alerted the police and the Commissioner for Women Affairs in Anambra State. The police assured the public of a diligent prosecution of the case to ensure justice for the househelp.

The Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs. Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, urged the public to speak out against acts of violence and ensure justice for the victims. The suspect, a mother of four, denied inflicting any injuries on the househelp, claiming she fell on a burning gas cylinder while trying to escape a beating.

The case has sparked outrage and calls for justice, with authorities promising to ensure the well-being of the househelp and hold the suspect accountable for her actions. It serves as a reminder of the importance of speaking out against child abuse and ensuring the protection of vulnerable individuals in society.