In a case that has sparked significant public outrage, a young female tenant was arrested by Lagos police after bravely reporting that her landlord threatened to kill her. The incident, which emerged via a viral post on the popular VDM Facebook page, has put a spotlight on police conduct and tenant safety in Nigeria.
According to eyewitnesses and accounts shared on social media, the 300-level student, whose identity remains undisclosed, had leased a room in the Igando area of Lagos State. She alleges that her landlord began making inappropriate overtures shortly after she moved in—pressuring her to “chill” with him late at night and sending him unsolicited messages. Matters reportedly took a violent turn, with the landlord physically assaulting her using a plank and issuing a blunt death threat: “I will kill you… I am going to use N500,000 to cover up everything”.
In a courageous move, the victim recorded the confrontation and took her complaint to the Igando Police Division. Instead of swiftly arresting the landlord or offering her protection, officers temporarily detained the student, prompting widespread condemnation from activists and online observers. A commenter on the VDM page lamented: “how can you even think of arresting that poor girl who is a victim,” illustrating widespread disbelief at the handling of the matter.
Meanwhile, the landlord fled the scene following the threats, and police publicly confirmed they are actively searching for him. Lagos State Police spokesperson Benjamin Hundeyin indicated that efforts are ongoing to locate and prosecute the offender.
The sequence of events has triggered renewed debate over the protection of tenants—especially vulnerable young women—in rental arrangements. Critics have urged law enforcement agencies to take decisive action and prioritize victims rather than penalize them.
As of this writing, the young woman has been released from detention, but no charges have been formally made against her. The arrest remains under review by police supervisors, and civil society groups are calling for a full investigation into the motives behind the detention and any abuse of authority that may have occurred.
The case continues to unfold, as the Lagos police come under pressure to apprehend the fleeing landlord and prove their commitment to safeguarding citizens over shielding perpetrators.
