The Rivers State Police Command has arrested a 46-year-old man, Abi Baragon, for allegedly assaulting and inflicting injuries on a lady who rejected his marriage proposal in Port Harcourt.
Baragon, a father of four, was arrested at the Nkpolu-Oroworukwo axis of Mile 3 in Port Harcourt.
The arrest followed a viral video circulating on social media in which the victim raised the alarm after being assaulted by the suspect, who reportedly fled immediately after the attack.
Spokesperson for the command, Grace Iringe-Koko, disclosed this in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Friday.
She said operatives of the Human Rights Department at the State Headquarters apprehended the suspect through intelligence-led policing and technical tracking.
“There was a viral video on social media, captured on June 20, 2025, where a lady cried out over an incident depicting that a man allegedly assaulted her and fled. The matter has been under intense investigation by operatives of the command,” Iringe-Koko stated.
She explained that Baragon was arrested on October 13, 2025, and initially denied the allegation but later confessed to attacking the victim.
“During interrogation, the suspect voluntarily confessed that he used bottles and stabbed the victim. It was alleged that his motive stemmed from the victim’s rejection of his marriage overtures after she discovered that he was already married with four children,” the statement added.
The police spokesperson said the victim had been taken to the hospital for treatment, while a thorough investigation was ongoing to uncover the full circumstances surrounding the attack.
Meanwhile, the state Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, commended the operatives for their swift action and lauded members of the public for providing useful information that led to the suspect’s arrest.
Adepoju reiterated the command’s resolve to ensure justice and warned criminals that there was no hiding place for offenders.
“If anyone commits a crime and runs away, the police will catch up with you. The suspect will face prosecution upon conclusion of a discreet investigation,” the CP added.
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