The Anambra State Government has detained one Uzochukwu Okoli for offering his minor daughter’s hand in marriage.
After Okoli’s daughter reported to the State Ministry of Women and Social Welfare about the abuse she was receiving from her father and the guy he made her marry, Okoli was taken into custody.
This was revealed in a statement released on Thursday by Chidimma Ikeanyionwu, the media aide to the state commissioner for women and social welfare, Ify Obinabo.
Ikeanyionwu claimed that the 16-year-old girl, known as Chioma, told the ministry that their father took her back from Edo State, where they were attending school to find a husband, following the death of their mother.
According to the statement, “She alleged that she was first forced to live with a 70-year-old man at the age of 14, but after some time, she ran back to her father’s house before he finally gave her out to a 34-year-old Chinedu N. as husband.
Along with her older sister, Chioma revealed that her marriage to the husband in question has been a “living hell” since he hits her and occasionally urinates in her mouth, which caused her to flee with her nine-month-old child.
On the other hand, her father, Uzochukwu Okoli, asserted that his daughter is 18 years old and then stated that she is 20.
“Okoli vowed to deal with the daughters if he was able to escape from prison while he was handcuffed. Additionally, he urged them to hope that he dies in prison because he would only make their lives more difficult.
In response to the development, Obinabo directed that the matter be charged to court so that the kids can get justice.
Using the medium, she urged parents to guide their children appropriately and to direct them properly rather than pressuring them into early marriages, which will ruin their life.
After being taken into custody, Okoli and Chinedu N will be charged in court.
