Ezenagu Becky Cries Out: Ex-In-Laws Holding Her Special Needs Child

A Nigerian mother, Ezenagu Becky, has publicly accused her former in-laws of unlawfully retaining custody of her special needs child and denying her access for over three years. Becky shared her painful ordeal on Facebook, detailing how her marriage to a man from Ondo State deteriorated due to alleged interference from his family.

According to Becky, her two-year marriage ended after her in-laws purportedly influenced her husband, branding her as 'bad luck.' She claims that her husband's family took her daughter when the child was just one year old. Now, the child has turned five, and Becky states she has been unable to see, speak to, or reach her daughter since then.

In an emotional Facebook post marking her daughter's fifth birthday, Becky expressed her heartbreak: "So today my child marks 5 years and I’m not able to sing to her, to hold her and to give her presents. There’s nothing as heartbreaking as a mother who has a child somewhere that she can’t see, talk to or reach." She lamented the alleged actions of her former mother-in-law, stating, "I still cannot believe my fellow woman who is also a mother is capable of stealing another woman’s joy in this manner."

Becky recounted how she was allegedly tricked into releasing her then one-year-old special needs child, unaware of her in-laws' intention to keep her away permanently. "For over 3 whole years all I’m left with is a shattered heart, memories of my child and longing for her. All efforts to get her back and reunite with her proved abortive and at this point i have exhausted all my options," she wrote.

She further revealed that her former father-in-law, identified as Pastor Shola Joshua, who is reportedly based in Jos, has refused to send even a picture or video of the child, let alone provide an address for her to visit. "I called my ex father inlaw a pastor for that matter begging for him to at least send a picture or a video of what my child looks like since he didn’t want to give me their address to come check on her and this man bluntantly refused," Becky stated, questioning how she could be stripped of her parental rights simply because her marriage failed.

Becky concluded her plea by wishing her daughter, Adiella Boluwatife Chidera Joshua, a happy birthday, adding, "even though you can’t see or feel me know that I adore you, I feel you and I’m praying for you my dear child." She hopes her public outcry will reach individuals who can assist her in reuniting with her daughter.