The Imo State Police have apprehended a man named Lucky Adim for allegedly inflicting severe injuries on his 10-year-old daughter, Confidence Adim, in Owerri. The arrest followed a petition from the Stand for Humanity Foundation, a human rights organization that intervened after the child was discovered with multiple injuries.

Chidiebube Okeoma, the president of the Stand for Humanity Foundation, revealed that the child and her two younger siblings were brought to the organization by concerned citizens who noticed their distress. Okeoma stated that the foundation immediately contacted the Owerri Urban Divisional Police Headquarters to report the incident and request an investigation into the alleged abuse.

According to Okeoma, the police acted swiftly, leading to the arrest of Lucky Adim, who reportedly confessed to the crime. "Mr. Lucky Adim was arrested by the police in Owerri. His arrest was initiated by us at Stand for Humanity Foundation after good Nigerians brought the brutalised child and her two younger siblings to us. The man used cable wire to brutalise his 10-year-old daughter. He has owned up to the crime," Okeoma explained.

Following the incident, Confidence Adim was taken to the Police Hospital in Owerri for medical treatment, while her younger siblings were placed in a local orphanage for temporary care. The Stand for Humanity Foundation has called on the police to ensure that Adim is prosecuted, emphasizing that child abuse is a serious issue that should not be treated lightly.

Okeoma stressed that child abuse is not merely a family matter but a constitutional issue, punishable under Section 355 of the Criminal Code, Cap. C38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, applicable in Imo State. The foundation is committed to pursuing the case through legal channels, aiming to set a precedent that deters other parents from committing similar acts of violence against their children.

"We are insisting that the suspect be arraigned by the police so as to serve as a deterrent to parents who abuse their children, thinking that the law permits them," Okeoma stated. The foundation's proactive approach highlights the growing concern over child abuse in Nigeria and the need for stricter enforcement of laws protecting vulnerable children.