By Deborah Nnamdi
A viral video allegedly showing a woman assaulting a young girl and threatening her with a knife in Abia State has triggered widespread outrage across Nigeria, with child rights advocates and social media users calling for the immediate arrest of those involved and stronger measures to combat child abuse.
The disturbing footage, reportedly recorded at IBB Estate in Umuahia, shows the terrified girl crying, pleading for help and shielding her neck as the woman allegedly threatens her with a knife. The incident has sparked condemnation and renewed calls for stricter enforcement of child protection laws.
Reacting to the video, Nigerian author and founder of the Leave No One Behind Rural Care Initiative, Charles Ogbu, urged governments to declare a state of emergency on child abuse and violence against children.
In a Facebook post on Monday, Ogbu described the incident as an attempted murder, stressing that perpetrators of child abuse should face the full weight of the law.
“I have said it again and again, our society needs to declare a state of emergency on child abuse and violence against children. And offenders deserve nothing but the harshest punishment possible. This is a blight on human civilization.
“Happened today at IBB Estate, Umuahia. I have since forwarded the video to the state government and secured assurances of their prompt action. This is attempted murder!” he wrote.
The video has since generated thousands of reactions online, with many Nigerians expressing shock and anger over the alleged attack.
Several users questioned why the person recording the incident did not intervene to rescue the child.
One user wrote, “I couldn’t watch this to the end. This is so sad and heartbreaking. Why didn’t the people recording this help the poor girl?”
Another commenter said, “The person making this video must be insane. Instead of rescuing the poor girl, he or she stood there recording.”
Others, however, defended the decision to record the incident, arguing that the footage could serve as crucial evidence in prosecuting those responsible.
A user noted that one of the voices heard in the background instructed the person behind the camera to continue recording, suggesting the video was intended to document the alleged abuse for legal purposes.
Many commenters described the incident as domestic abuse and attempted murder, calling on the police and relevant authorities to arrest the suspect and ensure justice for the child.
Others urged state governments to strengthen child protection systems and activate social welfare agencies to respond swiftly to cases involving vulnerable children.
“The nation has failed in this area. Abuse against any vulnerable group should not be tolerated. Every state should activate its social work department and begin decisive punishment,” one commenter wrote.
The incident has reignited national conversations about child protection, with many Nigerians insisting that offenders must be held accountable and that stronger measures are needed to prevent abuse against children.
