Tuesday, August 23, 2016
Ebonyi state governor threatens to declare 15yr old girl, Uzoamaka, wanted if she is not returned by new guardian in 7 days

Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State has ordered the return of the 15-year-old girl, Uzoamaka Chukwu,who was stripped and tortured early this month by some people in Uburu, Ohaozara Local Government Area.

Umahi, who gave the order on Sunday when he visited the family of the teenager at Umunaga Uburu, said her return would enable state government take full responsibility of her rehabilitation & training.



Although Uzoamaka was last week reportedly taken custody of by an Ebonyi State-born Port-Harcourt-based businesswoman, Ms Rita Nnenna Anoh, Umahi said she must return within seven days or be declared wanted because she remained a property of state.

Umahi, in a statement on Sunday night by his Chief Press Secretary, Emma Anya, said, "Government is asking that wherever she is, she should come back so that we can take over her training from secondary school to university level. We will also be able to rehabilitate her.
“ We are giving seven days for her to come back. We don’t know where she is but we ask that she must return because she is the property of the state.”
The governor, who also promised to improve the welfare of the girls family, reiterated his administration’s willingness to see that justice was done. He added,
"The matter is before a competent court; ,so we may not say much but on what we saw,we felt very bad as a people,as government and as brothers and sisters of Uzoamaka. "We feel that is a gross violation of her right and man’s inhumanity to man. "So we are very sad about it and that is why I directed that all of us should come to take over the responsibility of the girl.”
Umahi said what government was doing was in no way going to stop the case in court, stressing that the case in court will continue to run its course.
“The government’s intervention would not disrupt justice in the case, as we would ensure that such incident does not repeat itself while thanking the family for its belief in the government’s ability to handle the issue. The case in court will continue to run its course and justice must also be done in that direction," he emphasised.
Responding, Elder Francis Odabe, who responded on behalf of the family, appreciated Governor Umahi as a passionate leader. He said,
"We know you are a charitable son of the soil and we know that even if you had not been a governor, you would have still come to sympathise with us. You would have still shown concern because we know you for that. "
Odabe promised on behalf of the family to do everything possible to ensure that Uzoamaka was brought back home within the seven days given by the governor. The governor made the visit in company with some members of the state Executive Council and political stakeholders from old Ohaozara LGA. http://www.lindaikejisblog.com/2016/08/ebonyi-state-governor-threatens-to.html

@lalasticlala, In this age of human trafficking for prostitution, u cannot just seize a child of 15 years. Are u the authority, family member or parent? We dont even know the character of the person she is staying with or wat types of vice the child is exposed to. shm for some people.

Lol, Space Booked.. Op you just had to steal ftc.

"she remains a property of the state" wetin pesin no go hear for naija.

And if to say the woman is from the north, that's when you will start hearing all sort of words like pedophile, child raper, kidnapper, confused religion, abduction, forced conversion etc... .

Meantime, make I park for one side dey watch comments.

Here to read comments

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See how her intended humiliation is turning out to a huge blessing to her. If humiliator had known, they would not have tried it at all. To all! Whatever u are going through for now, believe God that it would turn out for a testimony for u.

I thought the original report stated she was 16years old? Did she drop a year or it was a typo from the blogger?
See how everybody wants to milk a little fame from the story. Disgusting! They would have all turned a blind eye and deaf ears if the case didn't go reported.

Govt and failed promises, if the parents gave their consent , why is the state govt behaving as if it dosnt have pressing issues like paying its workers salaries

I dey laff in swahili

For me, the government supposed to have acted promptly when this news broke out or even to have taken adequate steps when this issue happened.

Having taken over the upkeep of the young girl by her newly adopted parents from same state, the government should have first appreciated the effort/step and prompt response the woman who took her did.

Giving such order to have the girl returned within 7 days or she will be declared wanted is a wrong signal. The state government should have invited the woman first and after their discussions, ask her to return the young girl so that they can now do whatever they want to do for her future. Only if she refuses to return her that the government can now declare her wanted/missing

useless governor...where was he..na now day dey break

They want to spoil business for the business woman

Although Uzoamaka was last week reportedly taken custody of by an Ebonyi State-born Port-Harcourt-based businesswoman