Enugu Women Protest Abuse of 11-Year-Old House Help by Guardian in Anambra

In a powerful display of solidarity and advocacy, dozens of women from the Umuada Awgu Progressive Association and Umuada Awgu Global took to the streets on Wednesday to protest the harrowing abuse of 11-year-old Miss Happiness Nwafor by her guardian, Adachukwu Okafor, in Anambra State.

The distressing incident, which saw young Happiness subjected to brutalization with a hot knife and electric iron by Mrs. Okafor for allegedly not bathing her daughter properly, has sparked outrage.

Mrs. Okafor, a resident of Onitsha and native of Umoji, Anambra, is now at the center of a call for justice.

During the protest, Ambassador Chinemerem Anyi, the driving force behind the Umuada Awgu Progressive Association, voiced a strong condemnation of the violence inflicted on Happiness.
She highlighted the group’s frustration with the Anambra police’s delayed response to the crime, which remained unaddressed over a week post-incident. Anyi fervently described the abuser as a menace to society, demanding immediate legal action.

The protest aimed to amplify the call for justice, with participants making their way to key locations in Enugu, including the State Ministry of Child Gender and Social Affairs, the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) Enugu Network Centre, and the State House of Assembly. They carried placards with messages calling for justice for Happiness and an end to child abuse, signaling a collective demand for accountability and the arrest of Adachukwu Okafor.

Reacting to the development, Mrs. Ngozi Enih, Commissioner for Child, Gender, and Social Affairs in Enugu, expressed gratitude towards the women for their dignified approach.
Addressing the protesters on behalf of Enir, the head of the child development department, Mrs. Clemetina Ugwu, reassured them of the state government’s commitment to achieving justice for Happiness, affirming that Governor Peter Mbah’s administration would collaborate with relevant authorities to ensure the case is duly addressed.

Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State has also indicated that steps are being taken to prosecute the accused, marking a significant stride towards accountability and protection for the vulnerable.

The appalling abuse occurred in Akpaka, Onitsha North Local Government Area, shortly after Happiness began residing with Mrs. Okafor in January 2024. The community and beyond now watch closely, hoping for swift justice and protection measures for children against such heinous acts.