The Rivers State Police Command has arrested a 46-year-old man, identified as Abi Baragon, for allegedly assaulting a woman in Port Harcourt, an incident that recently went viral on social media.
The arrest followed a viral video recorded on June 20, 2025, which showed a distressed woman crying and accusing a man of physically assaulting her before fleeing the scene.
The video, which circulated widely on various social media platforms, sparked public outrage and prompted an immediate investigation by the Rivers State Police Command.
According to the Police, operatives attached to the Human Rights Department at the State Headquarters, Moscow Road, Port Harcourt, took up the case after receiving a distressing report about the incident.
The officers, acting on intelligence and with the aid of technical support, launched a manhunt that eventually led to the arrest of the suspect, Abi Baragon, on October 13, 2025.
Police sources said preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect’s alleged attack on the victim stemmed from her refusal to accept his marriage proposal.
Reports indicated that the woman had rejected the overture after discovering that Baragon was already married with four children, an allegation the suspect initially denied.
During interrogation, however, Baragon reportedly confessed to the assault, admitting that he used bottles to stab the victim during the violent confrontation.
The Police confirmed that the suspect is currently in custody, while the victim is receiving medical treatment at an undisclosed hospital in Port Harcourt.
Authorities also disclosed that an in-depth investigation has commenced to determine the full circumstances surrounding the incident and to gather additional evidence.
The Commissioner of Police, Rivers State Command, CP Olugbenga A. Adepoju, psc, mnips, commended the efforts of the operatives who tracked and apprehended the suspect.
He also expressed appreciation to members of the public for providing credible information that aided the investigation and eventual arrest.
The Commissioner reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to ensuring justice for victims of crime and reiterated that criminal offenders would not escape the long arm of the law.
“If anyone commits a crime and runs away, the Police will catch up with you,” CP Adepoju stated, warning that there is no hiding place for the wicked.
Police spokesperson, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, anipr, said the suspect would face prosecution at the conclusion of the investigation, assuring that justice would be served in the case.
