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…As Bayelsa First Lady, NAWOJ, Others Demand Arrest of Perpetrators
Nineteen years old, Nancy Ifiedi, small business owner from Imo State and victim of assault in the viral video in Bayelsa State, has petitioned the State Police Command over her ordeal in hands of her friends last Sunday.
In the petition to the Bayelsa State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Francis Idu, Nancy narrated how she was lured, assaulted, stripped naked, and humiliated by a group of four girls while one of them filmed the attack which was intentionally released on social media.
Speaking in a Facebook live interview after submitting her petition at the Bayelsa State Police Headquarters, Nancy explained that she was set up by her friends under the pretext of picking up her clothes.
She said, “I came to see my friend because of her signing out at Federal University Otuoke on August 29, 2025. I stayed behind with my friend Becky at Edepie School Road. We were having little issue, I had to leave her house to my friend’s house, Charity, at AMS. ”
“They called me that I should come and pick up my clothes from the drycleaner and that the clothes are ready. Getting to the place, they locked the door and started questioning me. They first took away my phone, questioned me that even before I could say a word, they started hitting me with hard objects,” Nancy said.
According to her, the attackers identified as Becky, Blessing, Favour and Miracle, carried out the assault while one of them recorded the video. “Miracle was the one videoing, Becky was the one pulling off my clothes, Kadi was the one cutting my hair with knife, threatening to stab me if I say a word. She was even the one that blew my eyes,” Nancy recounted.
She said her phone was destroyed, her SIM card thrown away, and she was left in pain with bite marks and suspected internal injuries.
“As for my health alone, I don’t even know if I’m having internal bleeding. I will be going for an X-ray tomorrow and a full body check-up to get a better treatment,” she added.
Nancy expressed frustration that despite the arrest of Kadi, the primary suspect was allegedly released to walk free. “I don’t know the person that signed surety for her that she will bring her by 10am today.”
” I don’t know the girl and the police officer allowed the girl to sign and they were released. As at today, their phones are switched off, I went to her house, nobody is there,” she said.
A close friend of Nancy, who witnessed the process, also described the police handling of the matter as suspicious. “It was like a mind game because when they were arrested, they left before us in the police van.”
“When we finally got to the station, the officers initially denied any girl was brought there. When they finally arrived, she was so free. I even questioned her and she insulted me in front of the policeman,” the friend said.
The case has continued to generate anger among residents, civil society groups, and women advocates across Bayelsa, with prominent voices calling on the police to ensure justice is served and the suspects are held accountable.
Technical Adviser to the Governor on Girl Child Development, Dr. Helen Bob, who took to her official Facebook page, condemned the assault, describing it as barbaric and harmful to the mental health of victims. She called for kindness, respect, and firm action to stop such acts and ensure girls are safe.
She wrote: “As Technical Adviser to the Governor on Girl Child Development, I join fellow empathetic voices in strongly condemning same-gender violence, particularly cyberbullying among girls.”
“This behaviour is utterly unacceptable and barbaric, causing severe harm to victims’ mental health and well-being. We must promote a culture of kindness, empathy, and respect, and take decisive action to prevent and address cyberbullying, ensuring a safer environment for all. Quite sad.”
Another commentator, Precious Digitemie, stressed the need for action: “Action speaks louder, condemning it here is one step, but the culprits who are walking freely should be our concern. In a country with good justice system, those girls will serve nothing less than 4 years for aggravated assault.”
Leadership consultant, Amb. Dr. Ayibadiepreye Isaac Benson, described the case as a test of Bayelsa’s justice system. “This hapless young girl has endured molestation, bullying and brutal assault in the hands of peers who, it is alleged, are buttressed by the patronage of the powerful and thus immunized from scrutiny and lawful redress.
“This matter constitutes a litmus test of the state’s fidelity to equity and the protection of its most vulnerable. By acting with resolute impartiality, your office can affirm that no child is expendable, no oppressor untouchable and that the shield of privilege shall never eclipse the sword of justice.”
Other Bayelsans echoed similar concerns. Paul Eris (aka Ogumbos) said words alone were not enough and that “the law must speak,” while Ohaji Ikechukwu Praise linked the act to rising female cultism in Yenagoa and urged government to deploy female security operatives.
RATTAWU women leader, Comr. Fortune Banigo-Lawal, expressed pain, saying “those girls should be brought to book.”
Also, Seiyefa Samuel called for a formal investigation, while Osuar Daniel Shagari insisted the culprits “must face the full wrath of the law to serve as deterrent to others.
Also, the Bayelsa State Chapter of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists, (NAWOJ) has condemned in strong terms the brutal assault the girl.
In a joint statement, Chairperson of NAWOJ Bayelsa chapter, Mrs. Grace Orumieyefa, and Assistant Secretary, Deintei Emmanuel-Otavie, described the incident as barbaric, inhumane, and a grave violation of the victim’s dignity and rights.
The NAWOJ leadership called on the Police and other relevant authorities to immediately investigate the matter and bring the culprits to justice without delay.
The statement further urged parents, guardians, and community leaders to be more vigilant in monitoring the activities and associations of young people to curb the rising trend of violence and lawlessness.
Also, the Association of Women Against Gender Based Violence and the Do Foundation, have expressed shock over the level of violence displayed by the girls against their fellow girl in the viral video.
In the statement issued by the President of the Association of Women Against Gender Based Violence, Dr. Dise Ogbise Goddy Harry, the group expressed shock over the incident.
According to the statement, “This ordinarily s not what we expect from young ladies who should be responsible and law-abiding citizens.”
“It’s sad and embarrassing that my own gender is in the front burner of the social media with a very shameful exhibition of violence and assault due to reasons we still can not fathom.”
“This incident raises so many criminal issues of assault occasioning harm character assassination, threat to life and cyber crime .
We will most humbly suggest that all relevant security agencies spring into action and investigate the matter.”
“We are also ceasing this medium to call on the victim to cooperate with security agencies in the investigation of this incident.”,
