A 40 year old man, Mr Godwin Etim Aweh from Odoro Nkit, Esit Eket, Nigeria is alleged to have dumped his one-year-old son named Diamond at a bush behind his house.
An anonymous caller alerted a humanitarian group, Child Rights and Rehabilitation Network (CRARN) of the action of Mr Aweh who runs a local wine business in Unyenge village in Mbo local government area of Akwa Ibom state.
According to a statement signed by Mr. Sam Ituama, Head of CRARN:
“Mr. Aweh (the boy’s father) came home during the weekend and told his wife that he was no longer interested in having the child as his son as the child is believed to be possessed by demonic powers.
According to an eyewitness, Ms. Mfon Sunday, the disconsolate mother of the child, who is also nursing a three-week-old son, helplessly watched as her one-year-old son cried and squirmed in pains under a heavy downpour.
“The mother of the child is helpless as she is not able to safeguard her child from her husband, the statement noted.
“Anytime she tried to pick the child and bring him back to their house, when the husband returned, “she will be severely beaten and thrown out of the house too” CRARN’s statement continued.
An eyewitness narrated that Mr. Aweh (aka Seven 7) was fond of throwing out the young lad whenever he returned to his house during the weekends and all entreaties for him to stop his callous and violent behavior towards the boy have so far fallen on deaf ears.
An anonymous source, therefore, called the CRARN rescue team’s hotline and invited them to come and witness what he described as a “horrible sight” in their village.
The CRARN team arrived the scene immediately, rescued the child and rushed him to the emergency unit of the Immanuel General Hospital, Eket where he is being treated for acute pneumonia, malnutrition, anemia and breathing difficulties. An X-ray report also shows dislocation and bone fracture on the limbs of the toddler.
” The young lad is due for surgery and physiotherapy to rectify the fractured bones,” the statement concluded.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare has reached out to the CRARN with financial support for the treatment of little Diamond plus other essentials for his upkeep.
