The Abia State Police Command has arrested a 35-year-old woman, Nwoko Gift, over allegations that she attempted to kill her 12-year-old niece, Ebo Chimamanda, with a kitchen knife in Umuahia.
The arrest followed public outrage after a viral video circulated on social media, showing a woman restraining a young girl and repeatedly striking her while holding what appeared to be a kitchen knife. The disturbing footage, recorded from a high angle, showed the woman kneeling over the child, who lay face-down on a concrete floor and cried out repeatedly, “Aunty no.”
The approximately two-minute clip also showed a man in a light-coloured shirt intervening and pulling the woman away as bystanders gathered around the scene. The video quickly spread across social media platforms, prompting widespread condemnation and pressure for police action.
In a statement on Monday, the Police Public Relations Officer of the command, DSP Maureen Chinaka, said operatives of the World Bank Divisional Police Headquarters, Umuahia, moved swiftly after receiving actionable intelligence. She said the officers rescued the victim, arrested the suspect and recovered the knife used in the incident.
“Operatives from the World Bank Divisional Police Headquarters, Umuahia, raced to the scene leveraging on actionable intelligence, rescued the victim, apprehended the suspect, and recovered the exhibit knife,” Chinaka said.
According to the command, preliminary investigation indicated that the incident happened on July 5, 2026, at IBB Housing Estate, Umuahia, where the suspect and the victim lived at the same address. The police said Gift, who hails from Ehimembano in Imo State but resides in Umuahia, is the girl’s aunt.
The statement linked the alleged attack to a domestic disagreement over chores.
“Preliminary investigation reveals that on 05/07/2026, Mrs Nwoko Gift, female, 35 years old, of Ehimembano Imo State but resides at IBB Housing Estate, Umuahia, the aunt to Miss Ebo Chimamanda (female, 12 years) of the same address, on the same date attempted to kill Miss Ebo Chimamanda, who stays with her, on the basis that she refused to spread the clothes she was asked to spread before the suspect (Mrs Gift) left for the market,” the statement read.
The police also alleged that the child had been subjected to repeated abuse before the latest incident.
“Investigation also revealed that the suspect has repeatedly beaten and has been threatening to kill young Miss Chimamanda,” the statement added.
Chinaka said the case had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, SCID, for further investigation. She added that the suspect would face attempted murder charges after the probe is concluded.
“Investigation is ongoing, as the case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), and the suspect will be charged for attempted murder upon conclusion of investigation,” the command said.
The police condemned the alleged assault and urged residents to report similar incidents promptly to the nearest police station. The command said it remained committed to protecting vulnerable persons, especially children, from abuse and violence.
“The Command condemns such actions for whatever reasons and advises members of the public to desist from such act, as well as to report any such incidents to the nearest police station,” the statement read.
The case has drawn fresh attention to child safety, domestic violence and the role of community intervention in detecting abuse before it escalates into deadly violence. It has also renewed calls for stronger protection mechanisms for children living in informal family care arrangements, where abuse can go unnoticed until public exposure forces action.
Authorities say the investigation is continuing.
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