Chidera Ukeje, the young domestic abuse victim whose plight sparked outrage after neighbours shared images of her burns and bruises on social media, has seen her father and stepmother taken into custody for questioning.
Neighbours reported that Chidera was regularly beaten and starved by her stepmother, withdrawn from school, and isolated in the house. Recently, she was locked inside alone while her stepmother travelled, prompting a neighbour-led rescue using a ladder, fearing for her survival.
Following the social media outcry, the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency and the police intervened, ensuring Chidera received medical attention at a local hospital.
Her father, Vitalis Ukeje, is accused of condoning the abuse. He denies any knowledge of the mistreatment, a claim met with scepticism given the severity of Chidera’s injuries.
The stepmother, Joy Ukeje, whom Vitalis Ukeje married four years ago after Chidera’s mother’s death, is believed to be the perpetrator of the abuse.
Legal proceedings are underway, and Joy Ukeje is expected to face charges in court.
