Torture: Enugu Assembly Urges Govt To Offer Scholarship To 11-Year-Old Housemaid

The Enugu House of Assembly has asked the state government to offer scholarship to the 11-year-old child, Miss Happiness Nwafor, who was allegedly tortured by her guardian, Mrs Adachukwu Chukelu-Okafor.

The House also asked the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 13, Mr Godwin Aghaulor, to investigate the case.

This followed a motion by the member representing Awgu South Constituency, Mr. Anthony Nwankwo, tagged “Brutal Abuse And Torture Of A Minor, Miss Happiness Nwafor By Her Guardian, Mrs. Adachukwu Chukelu-Okafor on Tuesday in Enugu.

The lawmaker expressed displeasure over the brutal torture and severe bodily harm inflicted upon one of his constituents and a minor, Nwafor by her guardian.

“The culprit, Mrs. Chukelu-Okafor, a self-acclaimed lawyer who ought to know better through concerted effort to propagate and promote the rights of a child as enshrined in child rights law and other conventions is the perpetrator of this heinous crime against a vulnerable child.

“This woman, heated a knife on fire and use it to burn the face, buttocks, vaginal and thighs of an eleven year old girl, left in her care to protect.

“Furthermore, she went about brandishing herself as a lawyer and saying that nothing will happen to her because she knows that Happiness is a minor and from a poor background and can not fight for her right.

“This is a crime against humanity, and such a severe act of violence against vulnerable members of the society are not only unacceptable but demand swift and decisive action as deterrent to forestall further occurrence.

“The rising cases of child abuse and torture is a painful development, adding that it is extremely hard to contemplated that a mother who passed through the travail of child bearing could possibly inflict such severe bodily harm on a child.

“To say the least, her actions are cruel, grievous, unfathomably, and it is at variance with the law.

“The promise of a better future by Chukelu-Okafor for Happiness has turned awry, not only has she been given a near permanent scar, she might live in regret for her entire life for going to live with the woman.

“This child’s personality, intellectual and social skill are still developing and traumatic experience like this can alter that development and cause an enduring and unexpected after effect”, the lawmaker said.

Contributing to the motion, Mrs. Obiajulu Ugwu, representing Enugu South Rural Constituency, said the action of Chukelu-Okafor has called for the full implementation of the Child Right Law in the state.

Ugwu suggested that the House should come up with preventative measures to avoid a repeat of the event.

Also, Mr. Osita Eze urged the state government to look into the case of giving out minor to guardians, noting that there should be a form of documentation in that regard.

In his remark, the Speaker of the House, Chief Uche Ugwu, condemned the abuse of the little Happiness Nwafor, saying the story of the abuse and torture is traumatising to him.

Ugwu asked the state government to ensure that the girl recalls and rehabilitate the little to enable her to overcome the trauma of the sad event.