On 20th May, 2017, the down-heartening news of how a 7-year-old boy was reportedly killed by his father in Port-Harcourt, Rivers state, Nigeria, filtered in. People wondered why a father could be that cruel to his own blood. The death of George Tamunoibuemie, was the climax of a supposed prolonged inhuman treatment meted out by a man he called "father".
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| late George Tamunoibuemie |
The sad story of late master Tamunoibuemie who before his cruel death reportedly lived with his father and step mother, was first brought to public knowledge by a concerned neighbour via an Instagram handle @srigeorgeom. who shared the story thus:
"Just this week, I saw this little boy at a shop, people gathered around him. He stole a doughnut and everyone was blaming his father, saying he wasn’t giving him food and that, that was why the boy stole. They said the father and the boy’s step mum maltreated him. I saw scar all over his body. The people he stole the doughnuts from even gave him more doughnuts and soft drink. I took the little boy to my house and interviewed him. He was an intelligent boy. He told me the same thing and even asked me to give him a pencil to school which I did. I also bought biscuits for him, took photograph of him before he left. I promised to see his father but couldn’t due to my tight schedule this (last week)."
A couple of days later, the concerned neighbour sent out the following message:
"This morning, I woke up to hear that his father has killed him. The father beat him to death. The father is at the Amadi police station now while the little boy’s body has been taken to the mogue. I saw the father briefly being held at the station as he was claiming that he only beat him small”.
Report has it that the incident happened on Saturday, May 20, 2017, around 12:30am, at Amadi-Ama area of Port Harcourt.
Varying reports made the round, howbeit, Rivers state Police account through its Public Relations Officer, Nnamdi Omoni, has it that the father, simply identified as Amadi, stated that he (father), had a misunderstanding with his son, and he beat the boy.
Excuse me...what kind of "misunderstanding" would a grown man have had with his "7-year-old son, that would warrant him beating the son to a pulp...until the child stopped breathing?.
The deed has been done and no amount of "trying to figure out what really happened" will bring back the child. Our concern should be more on:
...How many children are still out there living under the cruel condition, synonymous to that of late George in his father's house, or with guardians.
...Are there Policies or Laws already in place to protect the innocents in our society?
...Are there places concerned neighbours, Heads of schools, teachers, good Samaritans etc...can report to, when they notice symptoms of abuse on children, without being tagged "busy bodies"...watin concern you...shebi nah him "papa"...or "mama" or "relation"...leave them now. In order to avoid such occurrence(s) in the future.
...What penalties awaits such accused?
Like many cases, the story of late George Tamunoibuemie might be forgotten with time (if not almost), and the accused freed without duly paying the full consequence(s) of his irrational action.
As we celebrate Children today (May 27th), this publication appeals to relevant authorities especially across Nigeria and other parts of Africa, to see that adequate measures are put in place to protect children in our communities, and to see that perpetrators are aptly brought to book.
More so, the face of late George Tamunoibuemie should peharps flag off a campaign against Child abuse and inhuman treatment of any form.
