Suspect remanded over assault of young woman as Lagos takes survivor into protective custody

By Adebola Isimijola, Lagos

A Magistrate Court sitting in Ejigbo, Lagos, has remanded a man, Emeka Joseph, in a correctional facility over the alleged assault of a young woman whose ordeal sparked outrage on social media.

The Lagos State Police Command said the suspect was arrested following investigations into the assault of Ezeka Chisom, with whom he had been cohabiting.

Police Public Relations Officer, SP Abimbola Adebisi, disclosed in a statement on Wednesday that preliminary investigations revealed that the victim sustained facial injuries during the assault.

“The victim was assaulted by the suspect, with whom she had been cohabiting. The victim sustained injuries to her face,” the statement said.

According to the police, the suspect was charged before a court and remanded in Kirikiri Correctional Centre, while the matter was adjourned until August 3, 2026.

Meanwhile, the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA) said it had taken the survivor into protective custody after a video of the incident went viral on social media.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the agency said it was alerted to the case on June 22 and immediately activated its response protocol.

“Following the Agency’s intervention, the survivor was placed in protective custody, and she has commenced accessing psychosocial support to aid her healing journey,” the statement said.

The agency added that contact had been established with members of the survivor’s family as part of efforts to guarantee her safety and long-term protection.

DSVA also clarified that claims circulating on social media that the suspect and the victim were legally married were untrue.

“Preliminary findings indicate that the purported marriage being circulated in connection with the case is false and not legally recognised,” the agency stated.

The case attracted widespread public attention after a video showing hospital workers confronting the suspect over the victim’s condition circulated online, prompting calls for intervention by relevant authorities.

Reacting to the development, the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Tijani Fatai, reiterated the Command’s zero-tolerance stance on domestic violence and urged residents to report cases of abuse and other criminal activities to the nearest police station.

The Lagos State Government also reaffirmed its commitment to protecting survivors of abuse and ensuring accountability for perpetrators.