- State health insurance agency, NBA Imo, other human rights groups step in
By Prince Uwalaka Chimaroke
Following the alleged brutal assault of her 12-year-old stepdaughter, Amarachi Emmanuel, the Imo State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of a secondary school teacher, Mrs Blessing Emmanuel.
Her arrest came after Chidiebube Okeoma, an Owerri-based journalist and activist, raised the alarm about the severe abuse, thereby bringing the case to the attention of the police at the Owerri Area Command.
The abuse came to light when two concerned women, Eunice and Amarachi, noticed the young girl selling sachet water on the streets of Owerri. Upon closer inspection, they were horrified to see her body covered in bruises and scars, the result of years of abuse at the hands of her stepmother. Okeomaon being notified by these women, recorded a video that soon went viral, showing the extent of the girl’s injuries, including machete cuts and burns.
Amarachi, who lost her mother in 2018, had been forced to live under the harsh rule of her stepmother since her father remarried in 2019. The stepmother allegedly denied her education and forced her and her siblings to hawk sachet water to support the family. The abuse escalated when the young girl cooked rice and ate without her stepmother’s permission, leading to another violent attack.
On witnessing the child’s condition, Okeoma rushed her to Umuguma General Hospital in Owerri for urgent medical attention.
Recognizing the girl’s critical need for long-term care, Okeoma sought further intervention.
As part of the government’s commitment to protecting vulnerable citizens, the Imo State Health Insurance Agency swiftly stepped in, led by its Executive Secretary and CEO, Dr. Uchenna Ewelike. The agency enrolled Amarachi into the state’s health insurance program under a special scheme for vulnerable children. This move ensures that all the costs of her medical treatments, including any necessary surgeries and rehabilitation, will be covered.
Dr. Ewelike emphasized that this intervention falls under Governor Hope Uzodimma’s policy to provide health coverage for the poor and vulnerable, reaffirming the state’s commitment to supporting victims of abuse. The young girl was immediately transferred to Imo Specialist Hospital, where she will receive the best care available under the health insurance program, allowing her access to critical and comprehensive medical services without financial burden.
Beyond this immediate intervention, Chidiebube Okeoma who currently advocating for Amarachi’s long-term welfare, reached out to organizations such as the National Human Rights Commission, the Owerri Municipal Council Welfare Department, and the Imo State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development to ensure Amarachi and her siblings are placed in a safe environment. He also intends to secure their education, which had been neglected for years due to the abuse.
Okeoma, along with several human rights groups and the Nigeria Bar Association’s Owerri branch, has called for swift justice, urging the authorities to prosecute Mrs. Emmanuel for the physical and emotional torment inflicted on the children. The police, led by Commissioner Aboki Danjuma, have launched a thorough investigation into the case, with assurances that due process will be followed.
In the meantime, the public’s attention has been drawn to Amarachi’s plight, with calls for compassion and support for her recovery. “Her body bears the scars of unimaginable cruelty—her lips, eyes, genitals, legs, and stomach have been mutilated by burns and machete cuts. She needs all the help she can get,” Okeoma shared, appealing for ongoing public assistance and kindness.
Amarachi’s case has brought to the forefront the urgent need for stronger measures to protect vulnerable children in society. The quick response from the Imo State Health Insurance Agency provides hope that Amarachi will receive the care she needs, while broader efforts continue to seek justice and a brighter future for her and her siblings.
Through the combined efforts of activists like Okeoma, law enforcement, and the support of state institutions such as the Imo State Health Insurance Agency, Amarachi’s tragic story is becoming one of rescue, recovery, and hope.
Click here to watch a video of how little Amarachi was discovered.
Prince Uwalaka Chimaroke
