Security operatives have arrested a man for allegedly brutalizing and inflicting injuries on his eight-year-old nephew, Master Wisdom Okafor.
According to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps [NSCDC] in Owerri, Imo state, 41-year-old Okafor was arrested at his residence at No. 25 Anyanwuoha Street Akwakuma, Owerri with the little Wisdom following a tip-off.
Parading the suspect, on Thursday, the state NSCDC Commandant, Mr. Raji Ibrahim said that the suspect was apprehended by the operatives of the corps following intelligence gathering, continuous surveillance and monitoring in the various locations.
The suspect confessed to the crime adding that the little boy always annoyed him.
Ibrahim frowned at the way the abuse and maltreatment were meted on the little Wisdom by his own blood.
“He (Wisdom) was heavily beaten by his guardian to the extent that the little boy was always given an inhuman treatment like a slave by the elder brother of his mother.
The Commandant, who said that no tangible reason could be extracted from James Okafor (suspect) for his inhuman treatment to the little boy later resorted to crying on parade before all and sundry.
He said,
“The operatives of the corps got wind of the inhuman treatment following a tip-off from a nearby neighbour. It was from the tip-off that the operatives went to the residence of the suspect to arrest him and his ward”.
In his comments, the victim, Wisdom stated that the suspect was the elder brother of his mother adding that he could not know why the meted such injuries on him.
He said he was a primary II pupil in one of the primary schools in the state adding that he was always mercilessly flogged by his ward whenever he comes back.
Ibrahim however, advised parents especially guardians to take good care of their children/wards adding that life itself was cyclic.
He advised,
“You don’t know who will take care of you tomorrow when you will be old. The way you treat children under your care today, will determine how they will treat you tomorrow. No person knows what tomorrow upholds apart from God.”
He gladly said that many people who were notable people in the society were nurtured by guardians and advised people to look after their wards well.
Fielding questions, the suspect who was continuously crying could not give any reason for his action but blamed it on the devil.
He said,
“Eh eh! he (Wisdom) did not do anything bad to me but I don’t know why I always ruggedly beat and flog him. The scars on his body have healed, hitherto they used to be very pronounced.”
WuzupNigeria had finished their investigation and would soon hand over the suspect to the National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking [NAPTIP] in Persons.
