A man named Uche Mbonu and his wife, Peace, have been arrested for allegedly abusing and starving their five underage boys in Osumenyi, Nnewi South Local Government Area of Anambra State.

The couple was apprehended by security operatives and handed over to the police through the Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare, Ify Obinabo.

The eldest child, Chigbo Mbonu, revealed the family’s struggles, stating that Peace is his father’s third wife.

He shared, “We have suffered untold hardship since she came into our family.” Chigbo explained that they often go without proper meals, saying, “We feed once a day on the days our stepmother gives us food. That’s why we rely on raw rice and palm kernels after hunger has severely dealt with us.”

Chigbo, who is 17 years old, also mentioned that he had to stop schooling to help his father in his block industry. “I mould blocks with 4 bags of cement on a bad day and 6 bags on normal days,” he lamented.

During interrogation, the suspects denied the allegations. Mbonu claimed, “We didn’t starve the kids. We always feed them, but they prefer eating raw rice, an attitude we don’t know where they learned it from.”

Before her arrest, Peace had fled to Nnewi, her maternal home, following her husband’s arrest.

Commissioner Ify Obinabo condemned the act, stating that close examination indicated the children had suffered severe hunger. “The Soludo-led APGA government will continue to ensure that child labour, abuse, and all forms of maltreatment are reduced to the barest minimum,” she added.

The suspects have been handed over to the police for further investigation and prosecution.