Juliana Francis
A father, Mr Confidence Amatobi, has been accused of attacking his two months old baby, Miracle, with a hanger, breaking his arm, and leading to amputation.
The incident, shared on different social media platforms, has naturally caused outrage among Nigerians.
According to reports, Amatobi, attacked Miracle with a plastic hanger because his cries were disturbing his sleep.
The National Human Right Commission (NHRC) and the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Imo State chapter, who have become involved in the matter, have urged the Imo State Government and the Nigeria Police Force to arrest and prosecute Amatobi.
The incident led to the amputation of the fractured arm at the Pediatrics ward of the Federal Medical Centre, FMC Owerri. NAWOJ, NHRC and the aggrieved mother of Miracle, made the call for justice in Owerri the Imo State Capital.
Imo State Chairperson of NAWOJ, Dr Dorothy Nnaji, after visiting the amputated boy at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Owerri, confirmed that the injury inflicted by the father led to the amputation of the baby’s right hand.
Nnaji who frowned at the dastardly cruel act of Amatobi expressed shock that a father could assault his innocent child simply because he was crying and disturbing his sleep.
She disclosed that Amatobi was reported to have repeatedly hit the baby with the plastic hanger to stop him from crying until the hand got broken.
Nnaji said: “The perpetrator, Mr. Confidence Amatobi, used a plastic hanger on the baby, simply because he was crying that the 20-year-old mother left to ease herself. When he saw that his hand was broken and swollen, he used wood and elastic bands to tie the baby’s hand. 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 baby Miracle’s right hand from the shoulder.”
