By Pius Awunah
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has arrested a 45-year-old father, Mr. David Tersoo, after rescuing his wife and children from an abusive home in a late-night domestic violence incident in Mpape, Abuja.
The incident occurred on Tuesday,September 9,2025,following a distress call that alerted the police to a case of severe assault involving an eight-year-old girl, her three-year-old sister and their mother.
A statement on Wednesday by the FCT Command spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, said the woman was forced out of the house in the middle of the night with her nine-month-old baby, while one of the rescued children was found with visible bruises.
Adeh said the suspect, identified as a contractor with a history of domestic abuse, reportedly locked himself inside the house behind a bulletproof door while armed with a pump-action gun.
She noted that after a standoff, police operatives subdued and arrested him without casualties.
She said, “On September 9, 2025, the FCT Police Command received a distress call reporting a case of domestic assault involving an eight-year-old girl, her three-year-old sister and their mother, who was forced out of the house with her nine-month-old baby, in the middle of the night.
“The Commissioner of Police, FCT, promptly deployed the DPO Mpape Division and operatives of the command’s Gender Unit to the scene, where, in collaboration with the Ministry of Women Affairs, the children were rescued. One of them found with visible bruises.
“Their mother was later traced and placed in protective custody with her children.
“The suspect, identified as Mr. David Tersoo, 45 years old, a contractor with a history of domestic abuse, had locked himself behind a bulletproof door while armed. After sustained efforts, officers secured his arrest without casualties.
“A pump-action firearm, white powder, and other suspected illicit substances were recovered.
“He has been taken in for drug testing as part of ongoing investigations. The Commissioner of Police commended the Ministry of Women Affairs and the vigilant neighbors whose swift intervention helped prevent tragedy.
“The CP urges victims of domestic violence to speak out and assures residents of the Command’s commitment to protecting lives and ensuring justice.”
She disclosed that investigations were ongoing and that further updates would be communicated in due course.
Domestic violence remains a growing concern in Nigeria, with the National Demographic and Health Survey reporting that more than one in three women has experienced physical or emotional abuse.
Despite the passage of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act (VAPP) in 2015, implementation and enforcement have often been weak, particularly in rural and semi-urban communities.
Tersoo’s arrest adds to a string of recent cases in Abuja, highlighting the dangers of unchecked domestic violence, particularly in households where firearms and drugs are involved.
Police say investigations into the case are ongoing, with updates to be provided in due course.
Also, it comes amid renewed calls for stricter enforcement of laws against gender-based violence.
In another development, detectives from the FCT Police Command are investigating the death of a 24-year-old woman, Kelechi Ebubechukwu in unclear circumstances at her fiancé’s residence in the Gwagwalada area of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
Preliminary investigations showed that the victim had been battling malaria before her death.
Drugs believed to have been prescribed for the illness were also recovered at the scene.
Preliminary police findings indicated she had been ill from malaria before her death, with drugs recovered at the scene. No marks of violence were found on her body.
The deceased’s lover had been taken into custody while investigations continue to ascertain the exact cause of her death.
Ebubechukwu’s case adds to a growing list of women who have died in the homes of their partners in recent months across the country. Police records show that many such incidents occur during sexual intercourse, while others are linked to domestic violence or complications of untreated illnesses.
