Police in Ebonyi have arrested a hospital worker, Nkechinyere Aja, for alleged abuse and harm on the right eye of her housemaid, Chinonyerem Chiude.
Ebonyi police spokesperson, Loveth Odah, said Mrs Aja, a worker at Mile Four Hospital in Abakaliki, had injured the victim on her right eye while flogging her for using detergent to wash house hold utensils instead of soap.
Odah said Aja, who admitted committing the act, was later released to commence treatment on the victim.
The spokesperson said investigation into the matter would continue as soon as the victim gets better.
“The police will enforce the law if Aja is found wanting in the cause of our investigation.
“However, the Alex Ekwueme Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki has referred them to a hospital in Enugu,” Odah said.
“The woman was arrested but because the child’s case needed urgent attention, we released her to take the child to hospital.
“They are currently in a hospital at Enugu where her medical examination is being handled for now.”
Odah warned against child abuse and maltreatment of children and housemaids.
The victim, Ms Chiude, is a primary four pupil at New Era International School, Abakaliki.
The school’s proprietress, Dorathy Magbo, said she reported the matter to the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development after the victim’s mistress refused to honour several invitations made to her.
Head of the department of child development of the ministry, Godwin Igwe, expressed dismay over the incident, describing it as `inhumanity’ to life.
