A 35-year-old lady named Nwoko Gift has been detained by the Abia State Police Command on suspicion of using a kitchen knife to kill her 12-year-old niece, Ebo Chimamanda.

The arrest came after a video of a lady trying to hurt a small girl with a knife went popular on social media.

Gift was shown crouching over the girl, who was lying face down on a concrete floor, and repeatedly hitting and restraining her with a kitchen knife in her hand in the shaky, high-angle footage.

Before a man in a light-colored shirt interfered and pulled the lady away, the youngster could be heard sobbing and repeatedly yelling, "Aunty no," as she struggled beneath the woman.

The cops intervened after the video was extensively posted on social media.

In a statement released on Monday by its Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Maureen Chinaka, the command stated that after obtaining actionable intelligence, personnel from the World Bank Divisional Police Headquarters, Umuahia, saved the victim and captured the culprit.

According to Chinaka's preliminary investigation, the incident happened on July 5, 2026, at IBB Housing Estate in Umuahia. Gift, Chimamanda's aunt, allegedly tried to kill the girl because she neglected to spread the clothing that was requested before the suspect departed for the market.

“Preliminary investigation reveals that on 05/07/2026, Mrs Nwoko Gift, female, 35 years old, of Ehimembano Imo State but resides at IBB Housing Estate, Umuahia, the aunt to Miss Ebo Chimamanda (female, 12 years) of the same address, on the same date attempted to kill Miss Ebo Chimamanda, who stays with her, on the basis that she refused to spread the clothes she was asked to spread before the suspect (Mrs Gift) left for the market,” the statement read.

The command added that the inquiry revealed the suspect had reportedly repeatedly abused the victim.

“Investigation also revealed that the suspect has repeatedly beaten and has been threatening to kill young Miss Chimamanda,” it added.

Source