Mother, children beat 75-year-old father over firewood in Anambra

Security operatives in Anambra State have arrested a mother and her two children for beating their 75-year-old father, identified as Romanus Obidigwe.

It was gathered that the culprits, Esther Obidigwe, Ozioma Obidigwe and Obuka Obidigwe, committed the crime in the Awba-Ofemmili community in Awka North Local Government Area of Anambra State.

This was disclosed in a press statement issued on Wednesday, by Chidimma Ikeanyionwu, the Media Aide to the state Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Ify Obinabo.

Ikeanyionwu said they were arrested after the victim reported to the ministry, adding that the victim has been suffering a series of batterings from his family members.

The statement read, “Anambra State government through the security operatives, has arrested one Esther Obidigwe, Ozioma Obidigwe, and Obuka Obidigwe for beating their 75-year-old father, Romanus Obidigwe.

“Sharing his experience with his family at the office of the commissioner, Obidigwe, a retired senior civil servant stated that his family has been in the habit of beating him constantly.

“But what caused that particular incident was that his daughter, Ozioma, sold his firewood without his consent and when he tried to know why she did so, they pounced on him, tied him up and used a rod in inflicting injuries on him.

“Obidigwe further revealed that the trio has since stopped feeding him of which he accepted as good fate and that they usually steal from him especially his first son, Obuka who had gone to local government where he retired from to claim his benefits.

She noted that the victim lamented that he had given in to his wife’s compulsory ‘no sexual relationship’ since the year 2000, and he did so for the sake of peace.

“He also noted that it took the intervention of a neighbour before they stopped, after which they locked him out of his compound.

“During questioning on why they inflicted injuries on their father, his son, Obuka, denied being present when the incident happened while his wife, Esther, confessed to the crime whereas the daughter, alleged that it was what the father wanted to do to her that turned against him,” she added.

Reacting to the development, the Commissioner for Women’s Affairs and Social Welfare promised to make sure the victim gets justice.

Obinabo, therefore, warned every member of the society to desist from crime as the present administration is out to make sure the oppressed get justice.

She insisted that her ministry is not only meant for women and children but is instituted for the social welfare of everyone.

As of the time of writing this report, the trio have been handed over to the police where they will be further interrogated and charged in court