A middle-aged man, Uzochukwu Okoli, has been arrested for allegedly giving out his underage daughters in marriage.

Okoli’s apprehension followed a report lodged by one of his daughters to the Ministry of Women and Social Welfare, detailing alleged mistreatment by her father and the man he compelled her to marry.

During interrogation, Okoli initially stated his daughter’s age as 18 but later changed it to 20.

While being handcuffed, the suspect issued threats against his daughters, suggesting repercussions if he were to survive his prison term.

He urged them to pray he died in prison or be prepared to experience more misery.

“Just pray I die in prison because I will definitely deal with you if I eventually come out alive. I’ll make life more miserable for all of you,” he vowed.

Earlier, the daughter, Chioma Okoli, who claimed to be 16, disclosed that their father brought them back from Edo State, where they were attending school, solely to arrange their marriages.

Chioma, accompanied by her elder sister to the ministry, claimed that she was initially compelled to reside with a septuagenarian at the age of 14 before the father later gave her out to a 34-year-old man, Chinedu Nweke to marry.

She said: “After the death of our mother, our father brought us back from Edo state, where we were going to school to take a husband.

“He first forced me to live with a 70-plus-year-old man at the age of 14 but after sometime, I ran back home before he later gave me out to a 34-year-old man, Chinedu Nweke as a husband.

“Unfortunately, life with Chinedu has been hell because he beats me, and sometimes after beating me pees in my mouth. I was forced to run away with my 9-month-old baby,” she added.

Reacting, the commissioner for women and social welfare, Ify Obinabo directed that the case should be charged to court to ensure justice for the victims.

She urged parents to be mindful of their children and guide them properly instead of pushing them to early marriages capable of destroying their lives.

Both suspects, Okoli and Nweke were arrested and would be arraigned soon. (The Nation)

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