A man, identified as Mr Confidence Amatobi, has been accused of damaging his 2-month-old son’s right arm in Imo State.
Amatobi, a 31-year-old native of Amurie in Isu LGA of the state, allegedly beat his son, Miracle, with hanger for disturbing his sleep to the point the toddler lost his arm.
Miracle’s arm was reportedly fractured and later amputated at the Pediatrics ward of the Federal Medical Centre, FMC Owerri.
The National Human Right Commission (NHRC) and the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Imo State chapter condemned the act that led to the amputation of the 2-month-old’s arm and called on the state government and the Nigeria Police Force to ensure that justice is served to the suspect.
The association called for the immediate arrest of Amatobi and a thorough investigation into the case.
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NAWOJ, NHRC and the aggrieved mother of baby Miracle, made the call for justice in Owerri the Imo State Capital.
Imo State Chairperson of NAWOJ, Dr Dorothy Nnaji who spoke to newsmen after visiting the amputated boy at FMC, Owerri, confirmed that the injury inflicted by Amatobi led to the amputation of the little boy’s right hand.
Mrs Nnaji who frowned at the dastardly cruel act of Mr Amatobi expressed shock that a father could assault his innocent child simply because he was crying and disturbing his sleep.
She disclosed that Mr Amatobi was reported to have repeatedly hit the baby with a plastic hanger to stop him from crying until the right hand broke.
“The perpetrator, Mr. Confidence Amatobi, who hails from Amurie in Isu L.G.A used a plastic hanger on the baby, simply because he was crying that the 20-year-old mother left to ease herself. He used wood and elastic bands to tie the baby’s hand when he saw that hand was broken and swollen,” Mrs Nnaji said.
“He locked the mother and baby to prevent her from talking to neighbours or seeking help. He also took her phone from her. After two days she found her way out and sought help from her neighbours. The guy was arrested by a vigilante but he escaped. By the time help came, the baby’s hand was already decayed. The only option was to cut off baby Miracle’s right hand from shoulder,” she said.-