Man Arrested for Assaulting 18-Year-Old in Viral Video

Human rights activist Harrison Gwamnishu has announced that the man accused of beating an 18-year-old woman in a viral video is now in police custody. He also revealed that the woman, named Chisom, was taken away as a child and that her father did not know about any alleged marriage.

Gwamnishu shared this update on Instagram on Tuesday. He mentioned that early findings showed that Chisom was just 15 years old when her relationship with the suspect reportedly started.

This news comes after a shocking video emerged on Monday. The footage showed a young woman with visible injuries, said to be an 18-year-old wife. In the video, the woman appeared hurt while a man, identified as her husband, argued with neighbours who confronted him about the abuse.

Another video later appeared showing Chisom in what looked like a hospital with Gwamnishu. In that clip, the activist talked about getting the man arrested, but Chisom asked him not to.

Gwamnishu said, "Preliminary findings indicate that Chisom was only 15 years old when the relationship between her and the man reportedly began."

He mentioned that he thought about letting it go after Chisom pleaded with him not to arrest the man who claimed to be her husband. He said, "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.’"

Gwamnishu explained that members of the Behind Bars Human Rights Foundation’s Lagos chapter stepped in. They handed the suspect 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," he said.

The activist also mentioned that he received a call from a relative of Chisom’s father. This relative said Chisom was taken away with her siblings after their mother died 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 explained.

Gwamnishu added that the relative told him Chisom’s father became depressed after losing his wife and having his children taken from him. Family members had not seen Chisom and two of her siblings until the viral video came out. "They also stated that he was never aware of any marriage involving Chisom and the man now claiming to be her husband," Gwamnishu said.

He promised that the organization would keep supporting Chisom as investigations continue. "Why we cannot abandon 18-year-old Chisom. Her case is unusual, and she is deeply traumatized. Despite everything she has been through, she still needs support, protection, and understanding," he wrote.

Gwamnishu concluded that his Lagos State Director, Nta Amarachi Judith, was following up on the case while they waited for the police investigation results.