Follow Us on Google
From Wilson Okereke, Afikpo
Officials of the Ebonyi State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, have rescued an eight-year-old girl, Miss Chinelo Eze, alleged to be victim of child labour.
Chinelo was allegedly facing maltreatment in the hands of her mistress, whose name was not obtained as at press time.
Daily Sun exclusively gathered that the child, who lost direction in the process of running away from her madam’s home over the alleged ill treatment, involving battering and other forms of violence, was picked by some good Samaritans who later took her to the ministry.
The daughter of one Mr Paul Eze, who hails from Nsokara in Ezza South Local Government Area of the state, said before her rescue, she was subjected to incessant beatings from the woman, enormous domestic chores and denial of opportunity to formal education.
Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs. Felicia Nwankpuma, said her office was poised to take decisive actions against anyone who indulges in gender-based violence, child abuse, child trafficking and other related acts.
She disclosed that Chinelo’s plight was discovered by two of their neighbours who, out of sympathy, brought her to the ministry. She said the situation was cumbersome as the girl could neither explain herself nor tell her village.
“I appreciate the people who saved the girl and all the members of my staff over their quick intervention, and as it stands, my office will follow all the processes until the child is reunited with her parents, we will follow the matter until we trace the child’s family and her guardian, who were not able to look after the child.
“Thereafter, the law will take its course because the state governor’s wife, on her part, has taken it personally, that no Ebonyi child should be maltreated,” the commissioner said.
Director, Child Development, in the ministry, Mr Godwin Igwe, said the child, who barely identified the names of her mistress and the spouse as auntie and uncle, respectively, was brought into the city by the couple around the last quarter of 2022, with the promise that she would be enrolled in school.
Unfortunately, the girl was, instead, engaged in domestic chores and sale of foodstuff at the market known as Ahia-Mgbede, in Abakaliki.
