An Abuja resident who went viral for physically assaulting a young woman after she rejected his advances has been arrested and detained by the police.
The arrest followed widespread outrage on social media after the victim shared a video of herself in tears, explaining how the older man slapped her simply because she said “no” when he approached her.
How social media helped locate the suspect
Following the viral video, online users helped the victim identify the suspect and locate his residence. Equipped with this information, the victim and her family lodged a formal complaint at the police station closest to the suspect’s neighbourhood.
Upon receiving the report, police officers accompanied the victim to the suspect’s home.
Upon spotting the police, the suspect reportedly fled inside his house, locked the doors, and escaped through the back of the compound.
While at the scene, neighbours informed the police and the victim’s family that the suspect had a reputation for causing neighbourhood disturbances and repeatedly harassing young women.
Realizing he had been cornered and identified, the man eventually turned himself in at the police station. A newly released video shows the suspect offering an apology for his actions.
Resolution and out-of-court settlement
While the initial plan was to prosecute the suspect, the victim’s family decided against a lengthy court battle to prevent any disruption to her education.
Instead, the family has agreed to an out-of-court settlement, on the condition that the suspect pays financial compensation for the physical and emotional damages he caused. The police have detained the suspect until the agreed damages are fully paid.
Reflecting on the incident, the victim shared a video of the arrest on social media with a firm message to the public:
“No means No, and the sooner some men start respecting women’s boundaries, the better our society will become.”
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