The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has rescued three children from an abusive household and arrested their 45-year-old father, Mr. David Tersoo, after a violent incident in Mpape, Abuja.
The case unfolded on Tuesday night after police received a distress call about severe domestic assault involving an eight-year-old girl, her three-year-old sister, and their mother.
In a statement on Wednesday, FCT Police spokesperson Josephine Adeh confirmed that the woman had been forced out of the house in the middle of the night with her nine-month-old baby. One of the rescued children was found with visible bruises.
Adeh explained that the suspect, a contractor with a record of domestic abuse, barricaded himself behind a bulletproof door and was armed with a pump-action gun. Following a standoff, officers subdued 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.”*
She added that the suspect had been taken in for drug testing as part of the ongoing investigation.
The Commissioner of Police praised the Ministry of Women Affairs and vigilant neighbors whose swift response helped avert tragedy, urging victims of domestic abuse to speak out.
Domestic violence continues to be a growing concern in Nigeria, with surveys showing that more than one in three women has suffered abuse. Despite the passage of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act (VAPP) in 2015, enforcement has often been weak.
Tersoo’s arrest underscores the dangers of unchecked domestic violence, especially in homes where firearms and drugs are present.
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