Anambra Couple Arrested for Abusing, Starving Kids Over Raw Rice

Couple Held for Abusing Kids Over Alleged Raw Rice Consumption

The Anambra State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Ify Obinabo, has vehemently denounced the incident, emphasizing the state government's commitment to minimizing all instances of child labour, abuse, and maltreatment to the barest minimum. We will continue to work tirelessly to ensure a safe and protected environment for all children in the state.

A couple, Mr. Uche and Mrs. Peace Mbonu, from Osumenyi community in Nnewi South Local Government Area, Anambra State, have been arrested by security operatives for allegedly abusing and starving their five children. The couple claimed that their actions were motivated by anger towards their children for eating raw rice.

The children, all boys, were reportedly subjected to malnutrition, abuse, and neglect by their parents. The state commissioner for women's affairs and social welfare, Ify Obinabo, intervened in the matter and handed the couple over to the police for further investigation. The case will subsequently be taken to court.

“While pleading for pardon, the couple said that they always feed the kids but that the children prefer eating raw rice, which they don't know where they picked up the behaviour from.

“On his part, the oldest of the kids, Chigbo Mbonu, revealed that Peace Mbonu is his father's third wife, and ever since she came into their family, they have faced a lot of untold hardship.

“Chigbo Mbonu, who is currently 17 years old, said that they feed once a day for the days their stepmother will give them food but rely on raw rice and palm kernel after hunger must have greatly dealt with them.

“He went ahead to explain that he, at some point, stopped schooling because he helps his father in his block industry. He noted that he moulds blocks with four bags of cement on a bad day and six bags on normal days.

“Further physical examination of the children by the Women Affairs commissioner showed that they have been greatly starved and in need of medical care.

“It is important to note that Mr Uche Mbonu has married two wives before finally settling with the third one Peace Mbonu, who was his sales girl, and that the kids are all product of his previous marriages.

“According to the security operatives who helped in apprehending the culprits, they explained that after they got the husband, his wife Peace ran to Nnewi, her maternal home to hide before they eventually apprehended her too.”

The Anambra State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Ify Obinabo, has vehemently denounced the incident, emphasizing the state government's commitment to minimizing all instances of child labor, abuse, and maltreatment to the barest minimum. We will continue to work tirelessly to ensure a safe and protected environment for all children in the state.