12th November, 2022
A woman said to be about 60 years old, Christiana Okonkwo has instigated outrage at Olocha-Adogba in Awgu community, Awgu Local Government Area of Enugu State for encouraging her daughter, Ada Joy, to stab her day-old-male child to death.
Madam Okonkwo decided to end the life of her grandchild the day the baby was born after her attempt to convince her 18-year-old daughter to abort the pregnancy was not successful.
Joy, it was learnt got pregnant outside of the wedlock.
The incident was said to have led to protests by women in the community.
While the incident has generated outrage in the community, the police, in a statement he issued yesterday said the grandmother and her daughter had been arrested for conspiracy and murder of the child.
Daniel Ndukwe, spokesperson of Enugu Police Command said preliminary investigation revealed that the said mother of the newborn child used a kitchen knife to stab the child to death.
He confirmed that the action followed the counseling of her mother, moments after she was delivered of the baby at home.
Ndukwe added that the the child was taken to the hospital and confirmed dead by the doctors on duty after the stabbing.
He said, “Preliminary investigation shows that the said mother of the newborn child used a kitchen knife to stab the child to death, following the counseling of her mother, moments after she was delivered of the baby at home.
“The child was taken to the hospital and confirmed dead by the doctors on duty, while the corpse was deposited in the mortuary for preservation and autopsy”.
The statement called on citizens of the community, particularly the protesting women to maintain peace and avoid acts that could lead to the breakdown of law and order in the community.
Ndukwe said that the state Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Ammani, had ordered the State Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department (SCIID) Enugu to thoroughly investigate the case.
He urged them to be supportive, while reiterating that the case would be meticulously investigated and prosecuted in a record time.