By our Reporter
The Abia State Police Command has arrested a 35-year-old woman captured in a viral video allegedly attempting to attack a 12-year-old girl with a kitchen knife in Umuahia.
The suspect, identified as Nwoko Gift, was apprehended by operatives of the World Bank Divisional Police Headquarters after they received actionable intelligence on the incident.
According to a statement issued on Sunday by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Maureen Chioma Chinaka, preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect, who resides at IBB Housing Estate, Umuahia, is the aunt of the victim, Ebo Chimamanda.
Police said the incident occurred on July 5, 2026, after the young girl allegedly failed to spread clothes as instructed before the suspect left for the market.
The Command stated that the suspect attempted to kill the child during the altercation and that investigations further revealed a pattern of repeated physical abuse and threats to kill the victim.
Operatives who responded to the scene rescued the girl, arrested the suspect and recovered the kitchen knife allegedly used in the attack.
The case has since been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further investigation, while the suspect is expected to be charged with attempted murder upon conclusion of investigations.
The Abia State Police Command condemned the act and urged members of the public to refrain from all forms of violence against children and other vulnerable persons.
It also encouraged residents to promptly report similar incidents to the nearest police station, stressing that the protection of lives remains a priority for the Command.
