A 12-year-old girl, Bright Sunday, who was allegedly locked up in a dilapidated building by her father, has been rescued by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, in Akwa Ibom State.

The State Commandant of NSCDC, Mr Eluyemi Eluwade, disclosed this while briefing newsmen in Uyo, the state capital, on Saturday.

He said the victim was locked up by her father, Ndifreke Sunday, in connivance with her stepmother, Mrs Victory Sunday – 28 years old, both from Ikot Ukporo Idoro Village in Ibiono Ibom local government area of the state.

He said that the victim’s rescue and subsequent arrest of the suspects followed a complaint from the State Ministry of Justice about the suspects torturing the victim.

Eluwade added that the suspects were arrested for child deprivation and abuse in line with Section 10 of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law 2020.

“The arrest was made on Tuesday, September 10, at Ikot Ukporo Idoro Village in Ibiono Ibom LGA of Akwa Ibom State, following a complaint received from the Ministry of Justice about the suspect subjecting his daughter to inhumane treatment.

“The suspects admitted to locking up the child because she confessed to being a witch and responsible for his afflictions,” Eluwade said.

The commandant noted that the victim would be handed over to Gender-Based Violence Shelter Home for care and rehabilitation, condemned the act of subjecting the young girl to inhumane treatment, describing it as barbaric, callous and heinous.

He warned parents to desist from such acts, under whatever guise, as the agency of government would not relent in apprehending offenders.

He said that the suspects would be handed over to the appropriate prosecuting agency for necessary action.

Sharing her ordeal while speaking with newsmen, the victim lamented that she was kept locked up in a dilapidated room, denied food, shower and subjected to consistent beatings from her stepmother.

She also said she was fed once in two days, allowed to bath a maximum of twice a month and denied education.