Police have arrested 38-year-old Juliet Igwe for allegedly inflicting severe, horrific injuries on her six-year-old female maid, identified only as Onyinyechi.
The shocking abuse included using boiling water to peel skin from the child’s hands, and using candlelight and wax to burn her private parts and scald her body.
The arrest followed a tip-off received by the Ideato North police Divisional Headquarters.
During a press briefing at the Command headquarters in Owerri, Police Spokesperson Henry Okoye described the businesswoman’s actions as “despicable and totally unacceptable.”
The Imo State Commissioner of Police, Aboki Danjuma, has ordered the Deputy Commissioner of Police for the State Criminal Investigations Department to prioritise the investigation to ensure the suspect is quickly charged in court.
Igwe confessed to the assault, telling journalists she was punishing the child for allegedly stealing meat from her pot. She claimed she “didn’t know” the extreme methods using boiled water and candle wax would cause such grievous harm.
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Mr. Okoye commended the Stand for Human Rights Foundation, led by activist journalist Chidiebube Okeoma, for its crucial role in alerting authorities to the abuse in Uruala Community, Ideato North LGA, rescuing the minor, and assisting with the suspect’s arrest.
“This wickedness is not tolerated in a sane society like ours and should be condemned.
We have taken over the medical and welfare packages of the minor. We have taken her to the Imo State University Medical Centre in Owerri for proper medical investigations and treatments.
“We thank the Executive Secretary of the State Health Insurance Agency, Dr Uche Ewelike, for expressively approving complete free medical care for the minor, owing the urgency of her condition.
Okeoma also expressed gratitude to the Commissioner of Police for promptly ordering that the case be transferred to the State CID in Owerri for a swift investigation.
