A Ghanaian man identified as Emmanuel Opoku, will be arraigned in an Enugu high court tomorrow for allegedly pouring hot water on the breasts of his nursing wife.
The man was arrested by men of the Enugu state police command following awareness on the incident raised by a rights group, Women Aids Collective (WACOL).
According to an update by WACOL online, the nursing mother with a three-month-old baby, was allegedly assaulted by Opoku after she asked him for money to purchase some food items.
It said a good Samaritan had on the 9th day of July 2020, reported the case of abuse to the agency, following which it immediately reached out to the victim who is a mother of two boys.
The victim was said to have narrated to WACOL, that Mr Opoku was in the habit of physically and verbally abusing her, denying her and the children necessities and always torturing her unprovoked.
She said the latest incident happened when she asked him for money to prepare food for the family and he blatantly refused and while she was making pap for the 3 months old baby, he proceeded to pour the hot water on her breast.
According to the victim, she has been in excruciating pain and whenever she tries to breastfeed the baby, her breast will start bleeding profusely.
WACOL said after counselling her, it filed a complaint and a petition was forwarded to the Police Area Commander to investigate the matter and ensure the arrest of Mr. Emmanuel Opoku.
Subsequently, the Area Commander promptly issued a warrant of arrest against the perpetrator and Mr Opoku was arrested and will be charged to court on Monday, July 14 while the battered wife has been taken to the hospital where she is receiving medical attention.
The WACOL founder and Chief Executive Officer, Prof Joy Ngozi Ezeilo expressed her gratitude to the police for their prompt response in the case and said WACOL will follow through, as usual, to ensure that justice is manifestly seen to be done.
“I plead with Nigerians to report any suspected case of violence against women and children. Together, we will end the impunity of violence against women and girls that is raging our society today,” she said.
