Enugu govt rescues banished teenager allegedly impregnated by father

The Enugu State Ministry of Children, Gender Affairs, and Social Development has rescued a 16-year-old girl following her public banishment from the Nenwe community over allegations of abuse involving her father.

The intervention followed a viral video showing the teenager and her father being forcefully marched out of the village by local elders. In the footage, community members were seen raining curses on the duo, who were draped in palm fronds—a traditional symbol of abomination in Igbo culture—with elders declaring their alleged actions a taboo in the land.

Reacting to the incident, the Enugu State Commissioner for Children, Gender Affairs, and Social Development, Ngozi Enih, confirmed that the ministry has placed the teenager in a safe shelter. Meanwhile, a law enforcement manhunt has been launched to apprehend the father.

Commissioner Enih assured the public that the survivor’s physical health, emotional well-being, and overall welfare remain the state’s top priorities. She noted that the girl will receive comprehensive psychosocial support to navigate her trauma and begin her recovery journey.

“No child should ever be blamed, rejected, or punished for being a victim of such abuse,” Mrs. Enih emphasized.