A 33-year-old man, Chinedu Adim, has been apprehended on charges of severely beating his 8-year-old daughter to the point of unconsciousness in Awka, the capital of Anambra State.

Adim, a tricycle operator from Lokpa in Abia State, claimed his wife had abandoned him with their two children.

Witnesses suggested that Adim, who turned to substances after his wife’s departure, often unleashed his anger on his daughter, who now lies in a coma after being brutally attacked on August 15, 2023.

Despite allegations, Adim denied the accusations during questioning, attributing his daughter’s ordeal to spiritual causes.

ALSO READ: Kidnapped Anambra native doctor claims he could have escaped if he wished to

The suspect, previously a member of the Anambra Vigilante Group (AVG) before entering the tricycle business, stated that he was married for twelve years and has an 8-year-old daughter named Blessing and a 6-year-old son.

His wife left him eight years ago after his shop was destroyed by fire.

Adim claimed that his daughter woke up one morning with unexplained injuries on her body.

He reported that she mentioned waking up to find marks on her skin, which he said had occurred three times before.

She was subsequently rushed to the Odumegwu Ojukwu Teaching Hospital Amaku Awka, where she slipped into a coma and remains on life support.

The State Women and Social Welfare Commissioner, Hon Ify Obinabo, refuted Adim’s claims, asserting that the girl’s injuries were the result of severe physical abuse.

She urged parents to consider appropriate disciplinary measures based on the child’s age and cautioned against actions that could harm children.