A 38-year-old businesswoman, Juliet Igwe, has been arrested by the Imo State Police Command for allegedly inflicting severe burns and other injuries on her six-year-old housemaid, identified as Onyinyechi. The shocking incident, which occurred in Uruala community in Ideato North Local Government Area, has sparked widespread outrage and renewed concerns about the rising cases of child abuse and domestic servitude in Nigeria.
The police said Igwe used candlelight to burn the child’s private parts, poured hot water on her hands until the skin peeled off, and applied candle wax on her body, causing deep burns. Photographs of the injuries, shared by rights activists, showed severe wounds that required immediate medical attention.
On Thursday, the suspect was paraded at the Imo State Police Command headquarters in Owerri. The command’s spokesperson, Henry Okoye, described the case as one of the most disturbing acts of child cruelty the police had recorded in recent times.
According to Okoye, Igwe’s arrest followed intelligence provided to officers at the Ideato North Divisional Headquarters. He explained that the police acted swiftly once they confirmed the authenticity of the report. The information had been relayed to the police by Stand for Human Rights Foundation, a non-profit organisation founded by activist journalist Chidiebube Okeoma.
“We received credible intelligence about the cruel treatment of a minor in Ideato North. The Divisional Police Officer mobilised operatives immediately, and the suspect was arrested,” Okoye said. He commended the foundation for not only reporting the incident promptly but also helping to ensure that the suspect did not escape arrest.
The police spokesperson condemned Igwe’s actions, describing them as “despicable, inhumane, and totally unacceptable in any civilised society.” He said the state Commissioner of Police, Aboki Danjuma, had expressed deep concern over the incident and ordered a full investigation.
“The Commissioner of Police has directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Criminal Investigations Department (SCID) to carry out a thorough probe. Once investigations are completed, the suspect will be charged to court,” Okoye stated.
While being questioned by journalists, Igwe admitted to injuring the child but said she did not know her actions would cause such severe harm. She claimed she resorted to burning and beating the girl because she suspected her of stealing meat from the pot.
“I didn’t know the candle wax and hot water would hurt her like this,” she said. “I only wanted to punish her so she wouldn’t steal again.”
Her explanation has been widely rejected by members of the public, activists, and police officers at the parade, many of whom expressed disbelief at the level of cruelty inflicted on the child. Observers pointed out that the injuries showed clear signs of deliberate and repeated torture.
Chidiebube Okeoma, founder of the Stand for Human Rights Foundation, said his organisation first received information from community members about the abuse. He and his team rushed to Uruala, where they found the injured girl in severe pain.
“This wickedness is not tolerated in a sane society,” Okeoma told journalists. “We rescued the child immediately and handed her over to the police in Ideato North. We also assisted the police in arresting the suspect.”
He revealed that the foundation had taken responsibility for the girl’s medical care and general welfare. The child has been taken to the Imo State University Medical Centre in Owerri for intensive treatment.
Okeoma also thanked Dr. Uche Ewelike, the Executive Secretary of the Imo State Health Insurance Agency, for approving free, comprehensive medical treatment for the victim due to the urgency of her condition.
“We appreciate the Commissioner of Police for promptly ordering the transfer of the case to the SCID in Owerri for speedy investigation. We will continue to monitor the case until justice is served,” he added.
Child rights organizations say the case is one of many involving minors working as domestic servants, a problem that remains widespread across Nigeria despite laws prohibiting child labour and abuse. Many children in similar situations suffer in silence due to poverty, lack of education, and cultural acceptance of child domestic work.
While Nigeria’s Child Rights Act (CRA) clearly criminalises violence, torture, and exploitation of minors, its implementation remains weak in many states. Imo State domesticated the CRA several years ago, but activists say more effort is needed to ensure compliance at community level.
News of the incident has generated widespread condemnation on social media, with many Nigerians demanding that Igwe face the full weight of the law. Several advocacy groups have also pledged to follow the case to ensure there is no attempt to undermine justice.
Parents, community leaders, and church groups in Ideato North have expressed shock, especially because the suspect is considered a well-known trader in the area. Many said they were heartbroken to learn that a child entrusted to an adult for care ended up being brutally tortured.
The Imo State Police Command has assured the public that the case will be treated with utmost seriousness. Spokesperson Henry Okoye reiterated that the suspect would be prosecuted once investigations conclude.
“We want to reassure the public that justice will be done,” he said. “No child deserves to be treated this way.”
As Onyinyechi begins what doctors say may be a long recovery process, many Nigerians are calling for stronger child protection systems and harsher penalties for offenders. Rights groups are urging the government to intensify community education on child rights and the dangers of domestic child labour.
