13-Year-Old Girl Rescued After Alleged Eye Injury by Guardian in Imo

A 13-year-old girl, Favour Nuhu, has been rescued by a human rights group in Imo State after allegedly being assaulted and disfigured by her guardian, Mrs. Joyce Onyinye.

According to Chidiebube Okeoma, founder of the Stand For Humanity Foundation, the incident was reported by concerned neighbors and prompted swift action by the organization. The girl, originally from Kaduna State, was taken to the State University Medical Centre in Owerri for urgent medical attention, where doctors confirmed she had lost vision in her right eye.

The victim told police investigators that her 30-year-old guardian inflicted the injury using a laptop charging cord. Favour had earlier confided in neighbors about the abuse but pleaded with them not to report it out of fear of further violence.

The foundation alerted the State Police Command, and with officers’ support, they located both the guardian and the child. During interrogation, the guardian admitted to beating the girl but denied her actions caused the eye damage.

Following police instructions, the foundation enrolled the girl in the state’s free healthcare insurance program for vulnerable children. She was admitted to the state medical center and referred to an eye clinic for further care.

Despite the serious allegations, the guardian was granted administrative bail because she is a nursing mother but has been instructed to remain available for police investigations.

Okeoma condemned the abuse and called on the public to report similar cases. He urged guardians who can no longer cope with a child’s behavior to return them to their families instead of resorting to violence.

“No child deserves to be brutalized, regardless of their background,” he said, affirming the foundation’s commitment to fighting against child abuse and dehumanization.