13-year-old house help accused of stealing N500 jumps down from two-storey building to evade punishment

A 13-year-old Uduak Willy, a house help, has been escaped death after he jumped down from a two-storey building to evade punishment for alleged pilfering.

He was rescued by men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Abia State.

The State Commandant of the corps, Mr Vincent Ogu, made this known on Tuesday in his office in Umuahia.

Ogu told newsmen that the incident happened on January 8 at No. 204 Niger Stone on Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway (near Ariaria Market, Aba), where Willy lived with a businessman, Emeka Igwe and his wife, Aniekan.

Ogu said the girl took the desperate action after she was accused of stealing N500 from the house and allegedly subjected to serious beating by Igwe and his wife.

The commandant said that Igwe, along with his mother-in-law, 50-year-old Christiana Godwin, were “arrested for their alleged involvement in child-trafficking, child-labour, domestic violence and attempted murder.”

“When I got the disturbing information on the ordeal of the girl from Umesaka, I quickly mobilised my men and ordered them to rescue the victim and arrest the perpetrators of the dastardly and inhuman act against the minor,” he said.

He expressed delight that Igwe was eventually lured out from his hiding and arrested by the Aba Divisional Officer, SP Uche Uduma, to face justice for his action.