Abia: Man arrested over alleged child abuse

UMUAHIA — The Abia State Police Command has arrested a man identified as Uzoma Uwaeme over the alleged abuse of his 13-year-old son in Aba.

The arrest followed public outrage over a video of the incident that went viral on social media.

In the video, the boy was allegedly tied with a rope, stripped naked and severely flogged, leaving him with injuries before he was reportedly left exposed to the sun.

In a statement, the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Abia State Command, DSP Maureen Chinaka, said the command moved to arrest the suspect after being alerted to the video.

According to her, following a directive from the Commissioner of Police, CP Wilfred Olutokunbo Afolabi, operatives attached to the Abayi Divisional Police Headquarters arrested Uwaeme, a resident of Nwokocha Street, off Udeabara Road, Aba.

The commissioner condemned the alleged treatment of the child, describing it as “inhumane, barbaric and a gross violation of the rights of the child.”

The command reiterated its zero-tolerance stance on child abuse and domestic violence, stressing that the suspect would be prosecuted in accordance with the law.

Chinaka said the case had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further investigation, while the suspect remained in police custody.

She added that the 13-year-old victim was receiving medical attention and was in stable condition as of the time of filing the report.