Suspect

  Human rights activist, Harrison Gwamnishu, has disclosed that the suspect accused of assaulting an 18-year-old woman in a viral abuse video has been arrested and is currently in police custody. He further stated that the young woman was taken away while still a child and that her father had no knowledge of any purported marriage involving her. Gwamnishu disclosed the development in an update shared on Instagram on Tuesday, stating that preliminary findings also indicated that the lady identified as ‘Chisom’ was 15 years old when her relationship with the suspect reportedly began. The update follows a disturbing video that surfaced on Monday showing a visibly injured young woman, said to be an 18-year-old wife. The footage showed the woman with apparent facial injuries as a man identified as her husband exchanged words with neighbours who confronted him over the alleged abuse. A separate video later surfaced showing the woman at what appeared to be a hospital alongside Gwamnishu. In the clip, the activist spoke about plans to secure the man’s arrest, but the young woman pleaded against such action. Providing an update, Gwamnishu said, “Preliminary findings indicate that Chisom was only 15 years old when the relationship between her and the man reportedly began.” He said he initially considered backing down after Chisom pleaded with him not to pursue the suspect’s arrest. “Yesterday, while she pleaded with us not to arrest the man claiming to be her husband, I almost backed down. However, something in me said, ‘Harrison, involve your Lagos team,’” he wrote. According to him, members of the Behind Bars Human Rights Foundation’s Lagos chapter intervened, after which the suspect was handed over to the Isheri Oshun Divisional Police Headquarters. “The suspect was handed over to Isheri Oshun Divisional Police Headquarters, his statement was obtained, he was detained, and officers also visited Chisom at the hospital,” Gwamnishu stated. The activist further disclosed that he received a call from a relative of Chisom’s father, who claimed the young woman was taken away alongside her siblings after her mother’s death when she was seven years old. “Earlier today, I received a call from a relative of Chisom’s father, who narrated that Chisom was taken away after her mother died. She was just seven years old when members of her late mother’s family took her and her three siblings away,” he said. According to Gwamnishu, the relative told him that Chisom’s father became depressed after losing his wife and having his children taken away from him, and that family members had not seen Chisom and two of her siblings until the viral video surfaced online. “They also stated that he was never aware of any marriage involving Chisom and the man now claiming to be her husband,” Gwamnishu added. He said the organisation would continue to support the young woman as investigations progress. “Why we cannot abandon 18-year-old Chisom. Her case is unusual, and she is deeply traumatised. Despite everything she has been through, she still needs support, protection, and understanding,” he wrote. Gwamnishu added that his Lagos State Director, Nta Amarachi Judith, was actively following up on the matter while the organisation awaited the outcome of the police investigation.