Ben Ezechime, Enugu
Mrs Eucharia Okpalannadi, a 58 year old woman has called for justice over the defilement of her three years old daughter by her husband, Mr Magnus Okpalannadi.
Eucharia made the call to Anambra State Government through the Ministry of Women Affairs Commissioner, Mrs Ify Obinabo, in Awka.
She appealed to the government to save her soul as she now ives in fear due to threats to her life by her husband for exposing his alleged defilement of their 3-year-old daughter in Onitsha, Anambra State.
Okpalannadi exposed her husband’s unholy act due to his unrepentant heart and continued willingness of her husband to remain in same act.
She hails from Amesi in Aguata Local Government Area of the State but married in Achina, to her husband, Magnus, for over 20 years who took advantage of his closeness to the minor to defile her.
She revealed that their 25-year-old marriage had produced five children, a son (victim’s twin brother) and four daughters, 25, 24, 17 and three years respectively.
While narrating her ordeal at the Ministry of Women Affairs, Eucharia said she had dismissed her daughter’s initial complaint of sexual abuse as mere joke until she became persistent.
She said: “My daughter, Chimamanda, had complained that her daddy has been touching her personal place, initially, I thought it was a joke and rebuked her to stop that expensive joke.
“But because she has been close to her father, I needed to observe her much closer and discovered her private part appeared reddish, but when I called the father’s attention, he denied.
“I had to take her to the hospital where the doctor confirmed she was truly defiled, and even threatened to arrest my husband but I pleaded he should not.
“It was when my friends started inquiring about the matter and insisting I should no longer hide the act that I decided to report the matter to the state ministry of Women Affairs.”
The visibly devastated woman however decried that her life has been in danger since after the exposure.
“My husband is hard, wicked and cruel. It became worse when he joined ‘agbero’ and started smoking Indian hemp. He had even served jail terms abroad. He can kill.
“I want him arrested because he has spoilt my daughter. If he’s not arrested, he may kill me, kill the daughter and kill himself for exposing his ignoble act.
“I have been hiding since the case became public due to fear of being killed by my husband.
“I am too scared of him now because his newest character is too scary which left me to wonder what went wrong with the man I married many years back.
“I and my daughter have gone into hiding for safety and we are comfortable where I am presently and we are being taken care of by the State Government.
“I am grateful to Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra whom through the women Affairs Commissioner, Obinabo, offered shelter to us,” she said.
She also said that her husband was yet to be arrested didn’t mean the commissioner doesn’t know what she’s doing, as some bloggers are misinforming people on social media.
Okpalanndi appealed to the bloggers to stop spreading negative vibes and allow the commissioner’s efforts to go unhindered,” she said.
Reacting, Commissioner for Women Affairs, Obinabo, described the incident as terrible and unfortunate.
She assured the public that efforts were on to apprehend the fleeing suspect and assured no distraction will divert the commitment in giving justice to the wounded girl.
“Although the suspect is still at large, we won’t rest on our oars until he is arrested.
“We’ll definitely ensure that justice is served to those who deserve it,” she stressed.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government has placed a N1 billion bounty on the suspect.
