The Abia State Police Command has arrested a 35-year-old woman, Nwoko Gift, for allegedly attempting to kill her 12-year-old niece with a kitchen knife following a dispute over household chores.
The suspect, an indigene of Ehimembano in Imo State who resides at IBB Housing Estate, Umuahia, was apprehended after a video of the incident circulated widely on social media.
According to the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Maureen Chioma Chinaka, preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect allegedly attacked the victim, Miss Ebo Chimamanda, on July 5, 2026, because the girl failed to spread clothes as instructed before she left for the market.
The police further disclosed that investigations indicated the suspect had allegedly subjected the child, who lives with her, to repeated physical abuse and had made threats to kill her on previous occasions.
Operatives from the World Bank Divisional Police Headquarters, Umuahia, reportedly responded to actionable intelligence, rescued the victim, arrested the suspect, and recovered the kitchen knife allegedly used in the attack.
The case has since been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further investigation.
The police said the suspect would be charged with attempted murder upon the conclusion of investigations.
Condemning the incident, the Command urged members of the public to refrain from violence and report cases of abuse, threats to life, or other criminal acts to the nearest police station.
