The police have detained one Uzochukwu Okoli for marrying off his underage daughter following a directive from State government.
Okoli was arrested after his daughter informed the State Ministry of Women and Social Welfare about the purported ill-treatment being meted out to her by her father and the man she was forced to marry.
The daughter, identified as Chioma Okoli, who is currently 16 years old, said that her father brought her and her sister to Anambra from Edo State after the death of her mother.
She claimed that when she was 14 years old, she was forced to live with a man over 70 years old. She eventually ran back to her father’s house, but he then arranged for her to marry a 34-year-old man named Chinedu Nweke.
Chioma, accompanied by her sister, described her life with Chinedu as a nightmare. She stated that he physically abused her and even forced her to ingest his urine. This led her to run away with their 9-month-old child.
On the other hand, her father, Uzochukwu Okoli, initially stated that his daughter was 18 years old, but later mentioned that she was 20 years old at some point.
Following his arrest, Mr Okoli reportedly threatened to deal with the daughters if he made it out of prison.
He also told Chioma and her sister to pray for his death in prison because he would make their lives more miserable.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare, Hon Ify Obinabo, has ordered that the case be taken to court so that the girl can receive justice.
Both Mr. Okoli and Chinedu Nweke have been arrested and will be brought to court for trial.
