Teacher arrested in Imo for allegedly assaulting stepdaughter

• 52 suspected kidnappers, cultists, gunrunners apprehended in Delta

A secondary school teacher, Mrs Blessing Emmanuel, was arrested yesterday by the Imo State Police Command on suspicion of assault and battery of her 12-year-old stepdaughter, Amarachi Emmanuel.

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The arrest followed a complaint filed by journalist Chidiebube Okeoma, who encountered the young victim hawking sachets of water with visible injuries, including deep machete cuts.

According to reports, Amarachi, who lost her mother some years ago, had prepared rice for herself and her siblings in the absence of her stepmother. Upon discovering this, Mrs. Emmanuel allegedly inflicted severe physical harm on the child, including injuries to her private parts.

Sources indicate that Mrs Emmanuel, who is childless, had been treating Amarachi and her siblings like slaves since marrying their father, who is now mentally unstable.

The children were reportedly withdrawn from school and forced to hawk goods on the streets, with their earnings going to their stepmother. Okeoma, who witnessed Amarachi’s condition, took action by reporting the incident to the Owerri Area Command headquarters.

With the assistance of two local women, Eunice and Amarachi, the young girl was taken to Imo Specialist Hospital in Umuguma for treatment. A video of her injuries has since gone viral, sparking public outrage. Imo State Police Commissioner Aboki Danjuma has ordered a thorough investigation to ensure that the suspect is brought to justice.

In a separate incident, Delta State Police have apprehended 52 suspects involved in kidnapping, cultism, fraud, and gunrunning over the past two months. The arrests took place in Warri, Ughelli, Sapele, and other locations across the state.

Among those arrested were 34 suspected kidnappers, 12 cultists, two fraudsters, and four gunrunners. Police spokesperson Bright Edafe confirmed the arrests, stating that the suspects were found in possession of N5.5 million, seven AK-47 rifles, one AK-49 rifle, one G3 rifle, six pump-action guns, nine locally made guns, 53 rounds of ammunition, and seven machetes.