Operatives of the Nigerian Police Force, NPF in Ebonyi state have arrested two men for allegedly str!pping two teenage girls and flogging them on allegation of theft.
The police vowed to prosecute the suspects to serve as a deterrent to others against taking the laws into their hands.
The teenage girls in a video, which has since gone viral, were stripped n@ked and made to undergo various dehumanizing treatments over allegation of stealing fowls.
They were flogged and forced to parade the community n@k3d with the fowls they allegedly stole.
The incident happened in Ojiegbe, Ngbo community in Ohaukwu local government area of the state.
The video clip has triggered wide condemnation from the public who described the treatment metted out on the two girls as dehumanizing.
They called on security agencies to investigate the incident and prosecute all those involved in the inhuman treatment of the teenage girls.
“Share it until it gets to the government authorities. These girls were subjected to inhuman treatment. Criminal cases have legal punishment stipulated in the criminal code.
“Anyone caught in this situation should be handed over to the police, this treatment is too much for those small under age girls,” a resident said in the video.
On receipt of the complaints, the Police in Ebonyi swung into action and arrested
Police spokesperson, Joshua Ukandu in a statement said the duo was the primary suspect in the dehumanizing treatment of the girls.
“The Ebonyi State Police Command has arrested Dennis Ali and Ituma Sunday, the primary suspects in a disturbing viral video where two teenage girls were stripped, flogged, and dehumanised.
“The incident occurred in November 2023 at Ojiegbe Ngbo community in Ohaukwu LGA”, he said.
The spokesperson noted that the arrest is in keeping with the promise by the new Commissioner of Police, Anthonia Uche-Anya, to eradicate trial by ordeal, jungle justice, and self-help in criminal justice.
“She reaffirms the command’s commitment to rooting out such practices in Ebonyi State with stakeholder support,” he said
