The Akwa Ibom State Police have apprehended a lawyer, Ekere Ebong following a viral video showing him assaulting his wife at night on a street near their Uyo residence.
In the video, the assaulted woman is seen in only her underwear, her face bloodied.
The assaulted woman can be heard crying for help, and a man’s voice from the background rebukes Mr. Ebong for his actions.
The neighbours, who witnessed the incident, shielded the woman as she walked away from her husband.
The police spokesperson in Akwa Ibom, Superintendent Odiko Macdon, confirmed the arrest of Ebong, 55, who was apprehended at his Ewet Housing Estate residence in Uyo over the incident.
Macdon stated, “The suspect assaulted his wife and dehumanised her, leading to various grievous injuries. He is a known habitual perpetrator of violent acts against his wife over the years.”
“As an agency saddled with the protection of lives and property and maintenance of law and order, we cannot allow Ebong to continue this flagrant abuse of human rights, hence, the Commissioner of Police, Olatoye Durosinmi ordered the arrest of the suspect to prevent murder and breakdown of law and order.”
Ebong will face charges once the investigation concludes, as confirmed by the police spokesperson.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Bar Association has intervened, directing the Uyo branch to investigate the incident.
The national leadership of the NBA has mandated the local branch to bring Ebong before a disciplinary committee for his actions.
A source within the NBA noted, “This is not the first time Ebong is doing this; he has been beating the wife publicly several times. This is too bad.”
