A shocking case of alleged abuse has emerged in Abuja after police rescued a 36-year-old woman who was reportedly chained and locked inside a room by her own brother for more than 16 months.
The victim, identified as Grace Aniekuoku, was found in a heartbreaking condition after officers of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command stormed the residence following a distress report.
According to the FCT Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Sanusi, the command received information on June 12 that a woman was being held captive under inhumane conditions inside a house in Abuja.
Acting on the report, police detectives from the Katampe Division were immediately deployed to the location.
However, the operation was not straightforward.
Sanusi disclosed that the suspect, Chinedu Aniekuoku, allegedly refused officers access to the property, forcing the police to invoke legal powers that allow them to enter premises in situations involving lawful duties and emergencies.
Once inside, officers made a disturbing discovery.
The victim was reportedly found chained inside a locked room where she had been living in filth for over a year.
Describing the scene, the police commissioner said the woman had been left to eat, sleep and defecate in the same confined space without proper care or attention.
Her physical condition reportedly reflected the severity of the ordeal, with authorities describing her as severely malnourished and extremely weak.
“The victim was seen in a highly dehumanising condition, where she had stayed for this long in her own faeces and excreta. She eats there, defecates there — nobody cleans it, nobody cares about her welfare.
“Her hair was so grown, like a forest. She became so emaciated that a camera stand is thicker than her neck,” Sanusi said.
The woman was immediately taken to a hospital, where she is currently receiving medical treatment and care.
Police say they are hopeful she survives and recovers sufficiently to provide further details about what happened during her captivity.
Investigations have since uncovered a more troubling angle to the case.
According to the police, the suspect allegedly took away the victim’s son about two years ago and has yet to reveal the child’s whereabouts.
Authorities believe the prolonged confinement may have been intended to stop the woman from questioning or demanding answers about her missing child.
“The suspect had forcefully taken away the victim’s son to an unknown location about two years ago and subsequently kept his sister in confinement to prevent her from raising any questions regarding the whereabouts of the child,” the commissioner stated.
Police also revealed that investigators are exploring claims that the missing child may have been used for ritual purposes, although no official conclusion has been reached.
Efforts are currently underway to locate and rescue the child while the suspect remains in police custody.
Authorities confirmed that he will be charged to court once investigations are completed.
The shocking incident has sparked outrage among Nigerians, with many calling for justice for the victim and a thorough investigation into the disappearance of her son.
Source:FCT Police Command
