The Abia State Police Command says it will charge a 35-year-old woman, Nwoko Gift, from Imo State, with attempted murder after she was arrested for allegedly attacking her 12-year-old niece, Miss Ebo Chimamanda, with a kitchen knife.
In a statement, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Maureen Chinaka, said preliminary investigations revealed that the incident occurred on July 5 at IBB Housing Estate, Umuahia.
According to the police, the suspect allegedly attempted to kill the child after she failed to spread clothes before the woman left for the market. Investigators also alleged that the victim had been subjected to repeated physical abuse and threats to her life while living with the suspect.
Acting on credible intelligence, operatives of the World Bank Divisional Police Headquarters in Umuahia responded to the scene, rescued the girl, arrested the suspect and recovered the kitchen knife allegedly used in the attack.
The police said the case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further investigation, adding that the suspect will be charged with attempted murder upon the conclusion of investigations.
