A 31-year-old father identified as Confidence Amatobi, has been accused of beating his two-month-old baby, Miracle, with a plastic hanger for disturbing his sleep.
Gatekeepers News reports that the boy’s right hand was injured in the process which eventually led to the amputation of the fractured arm at the Pediatrics ward of the Federal Medical Centre, FMC Owerri.
The Imo State chapters of the National Human Right Commission and the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists have called on the Imo State Government and police to immediately arrest and prosecute Amatobi for the assault.
“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 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,” Imo State Chairperson of NAWOJ, Dr Dorothy 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.
“I feel for the 20-year-old Favor Chikwe who is too young to go through all this stress just because she went to easy herself. I am calling on lmo State Judiciary and all spirited individuals and Government to give justice to this innocent boy whose only crime was that he cried like any other baby.” she added.
