The Abia State Police Command has announced plans to arraign a 37-year-old man, Agwu Ukpo, for attempted murder following allegations that he assaulted a woman during a dispute over a pot of soup in Ohafia Local Government Area of the state.

The command’s Public Relations Officer, Maureen Chinaka, disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday.

Chinaka said the suspect was arrested after a video showing him allegedly attacking the victim, identified as Amarachi Chinyere, went viral on social media.

She explained that operatives of the command’s Violent Crime Response Unit apprehended Ukpo after receiving intelligence about the incident.

According to the police spokesperson, the suspect, who is an indigene of Akanu Ohafia in Ohafia Local Government Area, is currently being investigated by the State Criminal Investigation Department.

She added that the suspect would be charged with offences including assault and attempted murder after investigations are concluded.

“Leveraging actionable intelligence, operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit, Abia Command, have apprehended the above-mentioned suspect, who was captured in a viral video assaulting one Amarachi Chiyere over a dispute relating to a pot of soup.

“The case is currently under discreet investigation at the State Criminal Investigation Department, and the suspect will be charged in court upon the conclusion of investigations,” the statement read.

The police command condemned the incident, describing it as a barbaric and inhumane act of domestic violence.

Chinaka reaffirmed the command’s commitment to protecting victims of violence and ensuring that those responsible for criminal acts face legal consequences.

“The Abia State Police Command once again strongly condemns this barbaric and inhumane act of domestic violence and reiterates the fact that such behaviour is unacceptable under any circumstances.

“Members of the public are hereby urged to desist from all forms of violence, as the Command remains fully committed to ensuring justice is served in the state and that perpetrators of crime will be made to face the wrath of the law,” she added.

The arrest comes amid continued concerns over rising cases of domestic and gender-based violence across the country.

In July 2025, PUNCH Metro reported that the family of a Lagos-based hairstylist identified simply as Fatima raised concerns after she was allegedly assaulted by her yet-to-be-identified lover, leaving her with six missing teeth.

The report stated that the couple, who lived on Ibadan Street in the Ebutte Meta area of Lagos, had an argument that later escalated into a physical confrontation.