Police in Abuja have arrested Emmanuel Odiniya over an assault allegation. He is the father of former Big Brother Naija contestant Ilebaye.
The incident unfolded Friday night when Ilebaye went live on Instagram crying for help. A video showing her being attacked quickly spread across social media platforms.
Officers from the FCT Police Command responded to a distress call around midnight. The call came from Royal Anchor Estate in Wuye, Abuja.
When police arrived at the residence, they found the gate locked. They gained access to the compound at approximately 2:30 a.m.
Inside, Ilebaye had visible bruises on her body. She was with her brothers at the time.
Emergency responders rushed her to NNPC Hospital in Abuja for treatment. Her brothers were also taken to safety.
SP Josephine Adeh, the FCT Police Command's spokesperson, confirmed the arrest in a statement Saturday. According to her, the patrol team included operatives from the Department of Operations.
Adeh noted that the command's public relations officer was present during the operation. This ensured proper monitoring of the rescue mission.
"Hon. Emmanuel Odiniya is currently in police custody," Adeh told reporters in her statement.
She added that investigators are still working to establish what happened.
The police spokesperson did not disclose what may have triggered the violence. Questions remain about the circumstances leading to the assault.
Nigerians had expressed outrage after watching the viral video. Many called for swift action from law enforcement.
