By ALEX ENEBELI

Enugu State Government in collaboration with the police have arrested a woman, Ogechi John, over the alleged killing of her nine-year-old stepdaughter in the Emene area of Enugu.

The State Commissioner for Children, Gender Affairs and Social Development, Mrs Ngozi Enih, disclosed this in a statement on Monday in Enugu.

According to her, John, who is from Oderiko in Ikwo Council Area of Ebonyi was arrested by the police on Monday.

John was said to have allegedly beaten her stepdaughter, Miss Ogechi John, to death at their residence in Nchatancha Nike, Emene near Enugu.

She said that neighbours reported that the incident occurred around 3 p.m. on Sunday, alleging that the deceased had suffered repeated maltreatment from her stepmother prior to her death.

Enih expressed the state government’s outrage, stressing that the administration of Gov. Peter Mbah maintained zero tolerance for child abuse and violence against children.

“It is on record that the Mbah’s administration has zero tolerance for any form of child abuse, let alone child homicide.

“So, we swung into action on learning about this tragedy to ensure that the suspect was arrested,” she said.

The commissioner added that the government would ensure a thorough and speedy investigation into the matter.

“But it doesn’t end there as we will be pressing for thorough and expedited investigation to ensure that justice is not just done, but done really fast.

“Nobody should take another’s life and certainly not the life of any child in Enugu State. We condemn it in totality,” Enih stated. (NAN)