Bayelsa State police have paraded three young women accused of assaulting, stripping, and humiliating their supposed friend, Nancy Wilfred, in a shocking attack that has sparked nationwide outrage.
The disturbing incident, captured in a viral video shared on social media, showed the victim being slapped, punched, stripped naked, and forcibly having her braids cut with a sharp object.
Nancy, a teenager from Imo State who resides in Ughelli, Delta, said she had traveled to Bayelsa for her friend’s “signing out” ceremony at the Federal University, Otuoke. On August 29, after what she described as a “minor quarrel,” her supposed friends lured her to an apartment on Edepie School Road, Yenagoa, under the guise of collecting her dry-cleaned clothes.
Once inside, the four girls allegedly locked the door, seized her phone, and launched a violent attack. “They ganged up against me, took my phone, and began hitting me with hard objects,” Nancy narrated in a Facebook video.
The video, which went viral days later on X (formerly Twitter), drew widespread condemnation from Nigerians, who demanded swift justice after Nancy filed a petition to the police.
During a parade at the Bayelsa Police Command headquarters in Yenagoa on Thursday, the suspects were identified as Kadi Daniel, Miracle, and Becky, all students of the Federal University, Otuoke.
One of the accused, Kadi, confessed to her role, blaming alcohol for fueling the assault.
“She lied against me, saying I used charms. When I confronted her and she didn’t respond, I slapped her, and she pushed me back. That was how it all started,” she admitted, adding that the situation escalated beyond their intention.
Police confirmed that a fourth suspect, Favour, believed to have orchestrated the attack, is still on the run.
According to Bayelsa police spokesperson, DSP Musa Mohammed, investigations revealed that the suspects lured Nancy under false pretences, assaulted her, stripped her naked, and filmed the ordeal before sharing it online.
The attack, police said, stemmed from accusations that Nancy had claimed one of the suspects was using “Kayamata” (local sex charms) to lure men.
Commissioner of Police, Francis Idu, described the case as “grave and utterly unacceptable,” vowing that the perpetrators would face the full weight of the law.
The suspects are to be charged with conspiracy, indecent assault, grievous harm, attempted kidnapping, cyberbullying, and cyberstalking.
The case has triggered heated debates across Nigeria, with many calling for harsher penalties to deter gender-based violence and cyber humiliation. Advocacy groups have also condemned the attack, urging institutions to take action against the students involved.
As police intensify efforts to apprehend the fleeing suspect, Nigerians watch closely, demanding nothing short of justice for Nancy.
PIONEER NEWS 