A 31-year-old man, Confidence Amatobi, has allegedly assaulted his 2-month-old boy, Miracle, with a plastic hanger and broke the baby’s arm for disturbing his sleep in Imo State.
Amatobi, a native of Amurie in Isu Local Government Area of Imo State, was said to have hit the boy with a plastic hanger to stop him from crying until the right hand was fractured.
Speaking on the incident, the 20-year-old mother of Miracle, Favour Chikwe, disclosed that she left the little boy with his father on Friday, October 7 to use the toilet when the incident occurred.
Chikwe, who hails from Idemili in Anambra State, said she overheard her son crying uncontrollably and had to rush back to know the cause of her cry.
She added she later discovered that her son’s right hand was swollen and bone broken following the beating by his father.
“Upon noticing that he has broken the baby’s hand, he used sticks and rubber bands to bind the broken bones together.
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“When l confronted him about what he did, he locked us in the room to prevent me from telling people about his wicked deed or seeking help. He also collected my phone from me so that I will not call the neighbours,” Chikwe revealed.
The mother of the 2-month-old boy added that she later took the baby to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Owerri, the Imo State capital, where Miracle’s fractured arm was amputated.
Also speaking on the incident, the Imo State chapter of the National Human Right Commission (NHRC) and the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), called on the state government and the police to immediately arrest and prosecute Amatobi for allegedly assaulting the 2-month-old boy.
The chairperson of NAWOJ in Imo State, Dr. Dorothy Nnaji, who spoke to newsmen after visiting the little boy at the hospital, confirmed the injury inflicted on Miracle by his father.
“The perpetrator (Amatobi) used a plastic hanger on the baby, simply because he was crying when the mother left to ease herself. He used wood and elastic bands to tie the baby’s hand when he saw that his hand was broken and swollen.
“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 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 ease 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,” Nnaji said.
