The Lagos State Government has confirmed the arrest of the man seen in a viral video brutally flogging a toddler in Ikorodu.
The Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA) said the man was apprehended on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, a day after the agency was alerted to the incident.
According to the agency, the suspect is currently in police custody as investigations continue.
In a statement on Wednesday, the DSVA said it immediately activated its response protocol upon receiving the report and made contact with the child’s mother.
According to the agency, the mother disclosed that the matter had already been reported at Imota Police Station.
“Upon contacting officers at the Family Support Unit, the Agency was informed that the survivor’s mother had initially reported the matter to the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Agency,” the statement said.
“Following the report, the alleged perpetrator was apprehended on Wednesday, 23rd September, 2026, and is currently in police custody, as the matter has now been escalated for further investigation,” it added.
The DSVA said the toddler and her mother have been referred to the General Hospital for medical attention and further assessment.
The arrest comes after a video circulated online showing a shirtless man repeatedly hitting a toddler across the head and body with what appeared to be a charger cable, sparking outrage and calls for his arrest.
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) had earlier said it was working with security agencies to identify and prosecute the man in the video.
The DSVA said it would continue to monitor the case and provide support to the survivor and her mother.
“We appreciate members of the public who brought this matter to our attention,” it said.
Reaffirming its zero-tolerance stance on child abuse, the Lagos State Government urged residents to report cases through the Child Protection Unit of the Ministry of Youth and Social Development or the DSVA.