The Abia State Police Command has arrested 37-year-old Agwu Ukpo for assaulting a woman, Amarachi Chinyere, in a viral video. The incident occurred in April but the clip surfaced online in June, sparking widespread outrage.
Details of the Assault
The video, circulating on Facebook, shows Ukpo, wearing only shorts, aggressively hitting Chinyere with his fists while pinning her down inside an apartment in Aba, the commercial hub of Abia State. In the clip, he is heard threatening to kill her. Police spokesperson Maureen Chinaka, a deputy superintendent, confirmed the arrest in a statement on Sunday.
Contrary to online insinuations, the suspect and victim are not lovers but were living in the same apartment owned by Chinonso Ebegbulem. Ebegbulem, who recorded the assault, said he could not intervene at the time due to illness. He later reported the matter to the police, leading to Ukpo's arrest. Ebegbulem stated that all three hail from the Ohafia area, and he accommodated them because they had housing issues.
Police Response and Charges
According to Chinaka, the dispute between Ukpo and Chinyere arose from a pot of soup. The suspect was arrested by operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit after a tip-off. “The case is currently under discreet investigation at the State Criminal Investigation Department and the suspect will be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations,” she said.
The police condemned the incident as a “barbaric, unacceptable and inhumane act of domestic violence.” Ukpo will be arraigned on charges of attempted murder and assault. Chinaka urged residents to desist from all forms of violence, emphasizing the police commitment to prosecuting perpetrators.
