The Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency has confirmed the arrest and arraignment of a woman accused of assaulting her 15-year-old daughter in the Ipaja area of Lagos State, following widespread outrage triggered by a viral video.
The disturbing footage, which surfaced early Wednesday, reportedly showed the suspect attacking the teenager at a residence located at 32 Tashoro Street near Ipaja. In the video, the woman was seen straddling the girl while brandishing a knife after allegedly beating her near the entrance of a residential compound.
In a statement issued on Thursday via its official X handle, the agency disclosed that it swiftly activated the state’s response protocol upon receiving reports of the incident.
According to the agency, the victim was promptly rescued by the Child Protection Unit under the Lagos State Ministry of Youth and Social Development and has since been placed in a protective shelter, where she is receiving medical care and psychosocial support.
Operatives of the Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps apprehended the suspect, who was subsequently transferred to the Ipaja Police Station for further investigation.
The case was later handed over to the Family Support Unit of the Ipaja Division of the Lagos State Police Command. Following preliminary investigations, the matter was charged before Court 23 of the Samuel Ilori Magistrate Court on Thursday.
The court ordered the remand of the defendant at the Kirikiri Correctional Centre pending legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions.
The agency commended residents and concerned individuals who reported the incident, describing their intervention as instrumental in ensuring the victim’s safety and facilitating swift legal action.
Reaffirming the state government’s zero-tolerance stance on child abuse, the agency pledged continued commitment to safeguarding vulnerable individuals and ensuring that perpetrators are prosecuted in accordance with the law.
It also urged members of the public to promptly report cases of domestic and sexual violence through designated helplines and official reporting channels.
In a related development, authorities in Delta State had earlier confirmed the arrest of a woman identified as Tracy Wilson for allegedly sexually assaulting her three-year-old daughter. The case, according to police, was uncovered after the child’s father reportedly discovered incriminating video evidence.
