The Anambra State Government through the Ministry of Women and Social Welfare has arrested one Esther Obidigwe, Ozioma Obidigwe, and Obuka Obidigwe for allegedly beating the family patriarch.
The media aide to Women Affairs Commissioner, Chidinma Ikeanyionwu, who disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, September 4, 2024, said that the trio was arrested after the 75-year-old victim, Mr Romanus, reported to the ministry.
Sharing his experience with his family at the office of the commissioner, Mr Obidigwe, a retired senior civil servant stated that his family had been in the habit of beating him for a long time.
He said what caused the latest incident was that his daughter, Ozioma sold his firewood without his consent and when he tried to know why she did so, she and other family members allegedly pounced on him, tied him up and used a rod to inflict injuries on him.
Mr Obidigwe further claimed that the trio has since stopped feeding him of which he accepted in good faith. He said they usually stole from him and pointed out his son, Obuka who he alleged had gone to local government where he retired from to claim his benefits.
The patriarch bitterly lamented that it was for the sake of peace that he gave in to his wife’s compulsory “no sexual relationship” since 2000 till date.
He also noted that it took the intervention of a neighbour before they allegedly stopped beating him after which they locked him out of his compound.
When they were asked why they inflicted injury on their father, his son, Obuka, denied being present when an incident happened while his wife, Mrs Esther Obidigwe confessed to the crime, however, the daughter alleged that it was what the father wanted to do to her that turned her against him.
The women affairs boss, Hon. Ify Obinabo, who was visibly furious over the dastardly act, promised to make sure the patriarch got justice.
As at the time of filing this report, the trio has been handed over to the police where they will be interrogated and charged to court.
