Public outcry is growing over the brutal assault of 19-year-old Nancy Ifiedi, a small business owner from Imo State, whose humiliation was captured in a viral video recorded in Bayelsa State.
Nancy has formally petitioned the Bayelsa State Police Command, detailing how she was lured, attacked, stripped naked, and filmed by a group of four acquaintances on Sunday.
In her petition addressed to the State Commissioner of Police, Francis Idu, Nancy narrated how her friends deceived her under the guise of collecting her clothes, only to ambush her.
Speaking later in a Facebook Live session, she said:
“They locked the door, seized my phone, and before I could say a word, they began beating me with hard objects. Becky tore off my clothes, Kadi cut my hair with a knife and threatened to stab me, while Miracle filmed everything.”
Nancy revealed her phone was destroyed, her SIM card discarded, and she sustained multiple injuries, including suspected internal bleeding. She noted that though one of the suspects, Kadi, was briefly arrested, she was allegedly released under questionable circumstances.
A close associate who witnessed police proceedings accused officers of mishandling the case, describing the release of suspects as “suspicious.”
Public Reaction
The incident has sparked widespread condemnation from civil society groups, women advocates, and concerned residents who are demanding accountability.
Dr. Helen Bob, Technical Adviser to the Bayelsa Governor on Girl Child Development, described the attack as “barbaric” and stressed the need to foster kindness, empathy, and respect among young people.
Precious Digitemie, a commentator, insisted that words were not enough, adding: “In a country with a functional justice system, those girls would face nothing less than four years for aggravated assault.”
Amb. Dr. Ayibadiepreye Isaac Benson, a leadership consultant, called the case “a litmus test” for Bayelsa’s justice system, urging impartiality and firm action.
Other voices, including Paul Eris (alias Ogumbos), Ohaji Ikechukwu Praise, and Comr. Fortune Banigo-Lawal, echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing that the law must take its course.
Women Journalists Condemn Assault
The Bayelsa State chapter of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) also condemned the act. In a statement signed by Chairperson Grace Orumieyefa and Assistant Secretary Deintei Emmanuel-Otavie, the association described the video as “inhumane and a grave violation of human dignity.”
They urged the police to pursue a thorough investigation and warned parents and guardians to be vigilant about the activities of their wards.
Gender-Based Violence Groups Demand Action
Similarly, the Association of Women Against Gender-Based Violence and the Do Foundation expressed shock over the incident. President of the association, Dr. Dise Ogbise Goddy Harry, said:
“It is embarrassing that young women are at the center of such shameful violence. This raises issues of assault, threat to life, and cybercrime that must be addressed.”
The groups called on security agencies to ensure justice for Nancy and urged the victim to cooperate fully with investigators.
Growing Pressure on Police
With civil groups, journalists, and community leaders adding their voices, pressure continues to mount on the Bayelsa State Police Command to ensure that all perpetrators are arrested, prosecuted, and punished according to the law.
