Anambra State Government has arrested one Uzochukwu Okoli, for marrying for allegedly forcing his underaged daughter into marriage.
The man identified as Okoli was arrested after his daughter reported to the State Ministry of Women and Social Welfare about the alleged ill-treatment being meted out to her by her father and the man he forced her to marry.
The daughter, Chioma Okoli, who is currently 16 years old, said after the death of her mother, her father took her and her sister out of Edo state where they were residing and brought them to Anambra.
She alleged that she was first forced to live with a 70-plus-year-old man at the age of 14 but after some time, she ran back to her father’s house before he finally gave her out to a 34-year-old Chinedu Nweke as husband.
Chioma who was in the company of her sister, explained that life with Chinedu has been a living hell because he allegedly beats her and sometimes pees in her mouth pointing out that the act made her ran away with their 9-month-old baby.
In his submission, the FatherUzochukwu Okoli, claimed her daughter is 18 years old and, at some point, said she is 20 years old.
After he was handcuffed, Mr Okoli threatened to deal with the daughters if he made it out of prison.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare, Hon Ify Obinabo, has instructed that the case be charged to court so that the girl can get justice.
Both Mr Okoli and Chinedu Nweke were arrested and will be arraigned in court.