Police catch man who attacked woman over soup pot

The police in Abia State, located in South-east Nigeria, have arrested Agwu Ukpo. He is a 37-year-old man filmed attacking a woman named Amarachi Chinyere in the state.

Maureen Chinaka, the police spokesperson in Abia State, shared this news in a statement on Sunday.

A video making the rounds on Facebook shows Mr Agwu violently assaulting Chinyere inside an apartment in Aba, which is the commercial center of the state.

In the video, the man, dressed only in shorts, is heard threatening to kill the woman while he holds her down and hits her repeatedly with his fists.

PREMIUM TIMES learned that the attack happened in April, but the video appeared online in June.

This newspaper found out that, against what some people think, the man and the woman are not lovers. They were simply staying in the same apartment owned by a man named Chinonso Ebegbulem.

Mr Ebegbulem, the landlord where the attack took place, confirmed in another video that he recorded the incident that has now gone viral.

He explained that he could not help the victim during the attack because he was not feeling well.

Mr Ebegbulem also mentioned that he reported the incident to the police in Abia. This led to the arrest of the suspect.

He added that they all come from the same Ohafia Area of the state. That was why he let them stay in his apartment, as both of them were looking for a place to stay at that time.

In the statement on Sunday, Deputy Superintendent of Police Chinaka said the fight between the suspect and the victim happened over a pot of soup.

The police spokesperson said that the suspect was caught by members of the Violent Crime Response Unit after they got a tip-off.

"The case is currently under discreet investigation at the State Criminal Investigation Department. The suspect will be taken to court after investigations are done," she stated.

She emphasized that the police in Abia have condemned the incident. They described it as a "barbaric, unacceptable and inhumane act of domestic violence."

Ms Chinaka added that the suspect would face charges of attempted murder and assault.

The police spokesperson urged residents of Anua to avoid all forms of violence. She assured that the police in the state are committed to ensuring that anyone who commits such crimes will be prosecuted.