Father kills 10-year-old daughter over missing petrol pipe in Calabar

Calabar was thrown into mourning on Wednesday evening after a 10-year-old girl was allegedly beaten to death by her father over a missing petrol pipe.

The incident occurred around 7:30 pm at No. 3 Esit Ebom Street, Calabar South Local Government Area. Joseph Emmanuel, a father of twins and commercial petrol vendor, reportedly returned home and could not find a pipe he used to transfer fuel to his commercial motorcycles and vehicles of customers.

When Emmanuel asked his eldest daughter about the missing item and she failed to give an answer, he allegedly became enraged and assaulted her. An eyewitness told Vanguard that Emmanuel kicked the girl on the ribs, causing her to convulse and bleed from the nose. Neighbours quickly rushed her to a nearby church in a desperate attempt to save her, but she was pronounced dead shortly after.

Residents reportedly attempted to mob Emmanuel before the police were alerted. Officers from the Atakpa Police Station arrived promptly and rescued him from the angry crowd.

Police Public Relations Officer of Cross River State Command, ASP Sunday Eitokpa, confirmed that Emmanuel sustained injuries from the mob and was taken to the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital for treatment.

Eitokpa said Emmanuel confessed to the act but claimed he did not intend to kill his daughter, insisting he acted out of anger. The deceased’s body has been deposited in a morgue, and investigations are ongoing. The suspect will be charged to court once investigations conclude