A 13-year-old girl, Favour Nuhu, has been rescued by a human rights organization in Imo State after her guardian allegedly disfigured her right eye. The minor, who hails from Kaduna State, is currently receiving urgent medical attention at the State University Medical Centre in Owerri.
Stand For Humanity Foundation, through its founder Chidiebube Okeoma, disclosed that preliminary investigation by doctors revealed the minor can no longer see with her affected right eye. According to police reports, the girl stated that her 30-year-old guardian, Mrs. Joyce Onyinye, used a laptop cord to inflict the injury.
How the Rescue Unfolded
The foundation was alerted by concerned citizens living in the same neighborhood as the victim. These neighbors reported that the girl had revealed her guardian was dehumanizing her and had injured one of her eyes, but begged them not to tell her guardian for fear of further abuse.
"Upon getting the hint, we quickly went to the State Police Command headquarters in Owerri and reported the matter. Policemen were assigned to us and we moved to Green Health Estate at Ohii in Owerri where the minor resides with her guardian, but on our arrival we were told that the woman and the battered girl left before we arrived," Okeoma explained.
The team returned to the police command headquarters where they found the woman and the injured girl. It is suspected that the guardian had gotten wind of the investigation.
Medical Intervention and Police Action
When interviewed by police, the minor reiterated that her guardian had inflicted the injury. Mrs. Onyinye admitted to flogging the girl but denied that the flogging caused the eye damage.
Following police orders, the girl was taken to the State Health Insurance Agency where she was enrolled in the free Healthcare Insurance scheme for vulnerable children. Dr. Uche Ewelike, Executive Secretary of the agency, gave express approval for her admission to the State University Medical Centre and referral to Camel Eye clinic at Tetlow for specialized eye examination.
The guardian was granted administrative bail because she is a nursing mother but has been instructed to remain available for further police inquiries.
Advocacy Against Child Abuse
Okeoma used the opportunity to speak out against child abuse in all forms. "If you can no longer tolerate a child's excesses please take him or her back to her parents. You have no right to batter any child, not even the one you gave birth to," he advised.
"We will keep fighting child battering until we completely win it. No child deserves to be dehumanized. Not even his or her background status will warrant anybody to batter them," the human rights advocate added.
This case highlights the ongoing issue of child abuse in Nigeria, particularly among minors living with guardians rather than their biological parents.
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