The Abia State Police Command has arrested a man, Uzoma Uwaeme, for allegedly tying his 13-year-old son with a rope, flogging him severely, stripping him naked and leaving him under the scorching sun in Aba.
Uwaeme, a resident of Nwokocha Street, off Udeabara Road, Aba, was arrested by operatives of the Abayi Divisional Police Headquarters following the circulation of a video showing the badly injured boy on social media.
The arrest followed a directive from the Commissioner of Police, Wilfred Afolabi, who ordered an investigation into the alleged abuse after the video came to the attention of the command.
The police said they were also investigating reports that the boy’s mother had allegedly left him in his father’s care after he remarried.
The case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation, while Uwaeme remains in police custody.
The victim has received medical attention and is in stable condition, according to the police.
Afolabi condemned the alleged treatment of the boy as “inhumane” and “barbaric”, saying it amounted to a gross violation of the child’s rights and dignity.
He assured the public that the command would pursue the case to its logical conclusion and ensure that the suspect was prosecuted in accordance with the law.
The arrest came as the command continued efforts to strengthen child protection through its Police Community Relations Committee Safe Schools Initiative, inaugurated by Afolabi on September 9.
The initiative is designed to improve the safety of children and schools across Abia State by promoting collaboration between the police, communities, schools and other stakeholders.
Led by the PCRC Chairman, Kpakpando Igboaulam, the initiative will focus on safety awareness, school-based security, student mentorship and civic education, training of safety volunteers and the deployment of modern security measures, including surveillance systems where necessary.
Speaking during the inauguration, Afolabi described the initiative as a timely intervention and stressed the importance of community cooperation in effective policing.
The commissioner urged residents to remain vigilant and report cases of child abuse, domestic violence and other criminal activities to the nearest police station or through the command’s dedicated telephone lines.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
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