A 31 year old man, Confidence Amatobi is currently on the run after allegedly brutalizing his two month old son, Baby Miracle Amatobi with a hanger for disturbing his sleep, thus breaking the baby’s arm leading to amputation.

According to baby’s mother, Mr. Amatobi, a native of Amurie in Isu Local Government Area of Imo State, assaulted little Miracle with a plastic hanger and broke the baby’s arm for disturbing his sleep.

The incident led to the amputation of the fractured arm at the Paediatrics ward of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Owerri, Imo State.

Reacting to the incident, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and the Imo State chapter of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) called on the Imo State Government and the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) to immediately arrest and prosecute Confidence Amatobi for allegedly assaulting his two month old baby, Miracle.

NHRC, NAWOJ, and the aggrieved mother of baby Miracle made the call for justice in Owerri on Monday, October 24, 2022.

Chairperson of NAWOJ, Imo State Chapter, Dr Dorothy Nnaji, who spoke to newsmen after visiting the amputated boy at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Owerri, confirmed that the injury inflicted by the 31-year-old father led to the amputation of the little boy’s right hand.

Dr Nnaji, who frowned at what she described as “the dastardly and cruel act” of Mr. Amatobi, expressed shock that a father could assault his innocent child simply because he was crying and disturbing his sleep.

She disclosed that Amatobi was reported to have repeatedly hit the baby with a plastic hanger to stop him from crying until the right hand broke.

“The perpetrator, Confidence Amatobi, who hails from Amurie in Isu LGA used a plastic hanger on the baby, simply because he was crying that the 20-year-old mother left to ease herself.

“He used wood and elastic bands to tie the baby’s hand when he saw that hand was broken and swollen.”

“He locked the mother and baby to prevent her from talking to neighbours or seeking help. He also took her phone from her. After two days she found her way out and sought help from her neighbours.” 

“The guy was arrested by a vigilante but he escaped. By the time help came, the baby’s hand was already decayed. The only option was to cut off baby Miracle’s right hand from shoulder.”