By Linus Chima
A two-year-old child, Zino, whose plight in the hands of his father and stepmother came to the for on social media, is now receiving treatment in hospital.
Human rights groups that swang into action took the baby from their number 113 Okumgba Avenue residence in Warri and ensured the arrest of his father, Wisdom, for the poor treatment meted on the two-year-old baby.
Zino looked emaciated, sad and unloved though well kept.
Presently, he is receiving treatment in a private hospital in Warri.
At the hospital, his stepmother, Rita was seen beside him providing the care people said she ought to have provided from the onset.
Neighbours say the child was not fairly treated since he was brought to the house sometime in 2020.
They alleged that when they give food to Zino, the stepmother will quarrel with them and refuse Zino from eating the food.
Investigation revealed that Zino was the outcome of a love affair between the father, Wisdom and a lady, but that he was unable and unwilling to take care of the child.
It was also learnt that Wisdom, contested the paternity of the child until people prevailed on him to accept Zino.
The two-year-old child’s stepmother, Rita tried to exonerate herself from the allegation of lack of care for the child explaining that the doctor only complained that the child lacked protein.
She said, “My husband does not maltreat the pink. When they ran a test for his body they said everything was ok in his body. It is what I have I give to him.”
Wisdom is already with the police in ‘B’ Division, Warri and our Correspondent, as well as others, were not allowed to see him, as the investigation into the allegation of child maltreatment was still ongoing.
As investigations continue into the matter and the child recuperates, it is not clear if the parents of Zino will appear in court to answer to allegations of torture, neglect and injustice to a baby, who did not request to be born.
This case, however, sheds light on similar ones triggered by collapsed relationships, making such children look like an irritation, rather than a beacon of light.
