The Lagos State Police Command has arrested a 23-year-old man, Abidemi Emmanuel, for allegedly raping a popular content creator known as Fems Thrift and her friend.

According to the police, Emmanuel lured the victims with a fake modelling gig in Ajao Estate on February 8.

In a video posted on her TikTok page and seen by Saturday PUNCH, Fems said she was contacted on Instagram by a man who claimed he had relocated from the United Kingdom to launch an international fashion brand in Nigeria.

She alleged that the suspect offered her N140,000 for the modelling job and requested her influence to promote the brand. On arriving at the location with her friend, she said the suspect sexually assaulted both of them.

The arrest follows intense public pressure on social media after the victims’ detailed account went viral, generating thousands of shares and demands for justice.

Confirming the arrest in response to an inquiry by our correspondent on Friday, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Adebisi, said the investigation was ongoing at the command’s Gender Unit.

“The suspect, Abidemi Emmanuel, 23 years, is currently in custody while the investigation is ongoing at the Command Gender Unit. The case is being handled in line with global best practices for sexual and gender-based violence investigations, ensuring the protection, dignity, and welfare of the survivors,” she said.

Adebisi added that the suspect would be charged to court upon conclusion of the investigation.

In the video that has generated outrage on social media, Fems narrated that she arrived at the location around 11 a.m. on February 8 with her friend.

“When we entered the apartment, the room was empty. He claimed it was a space for content creation and that a makeup artist was on the way but had stepped out briefly. He then told me to take a shower before the makeup artist arrived, saying my skin was too oily for the shoot. He offered me a robe to change into,” she said.

The spokesperson said after taking her bath and changing into the robe, the man entered with a key under the guise of showing them how to lock the door.

“He showed us the key and told us to lock the door to feel safe before the videographer and other crew members arrived. Then he locked the door, stood in a corner, and I became scared. The man, after locking the door, brandished a knife and ordered us to undress. He tied our hands with socks and threatened to stab us if we resisted. He sexually assaulted us multiple times without protection,” she added.

Fems further alleged that before letting them go, the man seized their phones, forced them to unlock private folders, and transferred intimate photos and videos to himself via AirDrop, threatening to release the materials online if they spoke out.

“He told us to unlock our phones and transfer all our private photos, saying it was for his personal pleasure. He threatened me with my internet presence, saying if I tried to speak up, he would post all my private videos now and in the future,” she said.

The victims reportedly left the area between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. on the same day.

Initially silenced by fear of blackmail, Fems later shared her story to seek justice. Social media users responded with massive support, circulating images of the alleged perpetrator and tagging police accounts relentlessly. (PUNCH)

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