By Peter Onyekachukwu, Warri
The Delta State Government has provided financial support to a woman falsely accused of maltreating her nine-year-old niece in Asaba, in a bid to support her business and improve the child’s welfare.
The assistance, facilitated by the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community and Social Development, was presented during the December meeting of the Delta State Child Rights Implementation Committee.
Speaking at the event, the Permanent Secretary and Committee Chairperson, Mrs. Oghenekevwe Agas, emphasized the government’s commitment to acknowledging guardians making efforts to care for vulnerable children.
The support followed investigations into a viral video showing the girl fetching water with a large bucket, which was initially misconstrued as evidence of abuse. However, Barrister Awele Ideal and Comrade Patrick Ochei of the Child Rights Committee uncovered that the girl had opted for the larger bucket herself after breaking her smaller one.
The inquiry further revealed that the guardian and her husband, who are petty traders, treated the girl as part of their family, enrolling her in school alongside their own children.