A middle-aged man has been arrested by operatives of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) in collaboration with officials of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Women Affairs Secretariat following a viral video showing him violently assaulting his 25-year-old wife.
The suspect, whose name is being withheld, was apprehended inside the popular GSM Market in Wuse, Abuja. Authorities also rescued the victim from their self-contained apartment located in the Wumba community, within the Apo area of the FCT.
In the disturbing footage, the man was seen pinning down his wife—mother of three—by the neck and repeatedly hitting her with a table tennis bat, as their children screamed and pleaded for him to stop. The video sparked widespread outrage on social media and prompted immediate action from the relevant authorities.
The operation was led by the Mandate Secretary of the FCT Women Affairs Secretariat, Mrs. Adedayo Benjamin-Laniyi, in coordination with NAPTIP officers.
Reacting to the incident, the Director General of NAPTIP, Binta Adamu Bello, OON, strongly condemned the act, describing it as a grave violation of human rights. She assured the public that the case would be thoroughly investigated and prosecuted under the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act, 2015.
“This kind of violence is unacceptable in any society,” Bello said. “NAPTIP is committed to ensuring that the suspect faces the full weight of the law and that the victim receives the necessary care and protection.”
The agency further reiterated its commitment to fighting all forms of violence against women and children and called on members of the public to report similar incidents promptly.
