Two men, Dennis Ali and Ituma Sunday, have been arrested by the Ebonyi State Police following public outrage over a viral video showing two teenage girls being stripped, beaten, and forced to walk naked through a community after being accused of stealing fowls.
The suspects were apprehended for their alleged involvement in what Police Spokesperson Joshua Ukandu described as a “disturbing” incident of public humiliation that occurred in Ojiegbe, Ngbo community, Ohaukwu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
The Explainer learned that a viral video, which surfaced on social media this week, showed the teenagers enduring severe dehumanizing treatment, although the incident reportedly took place around November 2023.
“These girls were subjected to inhuman treatment. Criminal cases have legal punishment stipulated in the criminal code,” stated the overlay text on the video, which continued: “Anyone caught in this situation should be handed over to the police; this treatment is too much for those small underage girls.”
The victims were allegedly accused of stealing fowls and subsequently subjected to public humiliation, being forced to parade naked through the community while carrying the fowls they were accused of stealing.
The incident has sparked widespread condemnation across social media platforms, with many Nigerians calling for immediate investigation and prosecution of those responsible.
Deputy Superintendent of Police Joshua Ukandu stated in a release on Tuesday, November 5, that the arrests align with new Commissioner of Police Anthonia Uche-Anya’s commitment to “eradicate trial by ordeal, jungle justice, and self-help in criminal justice.”
Commissioner Uche-Anya assured the public that all individuals involved in the dehumanizing treatment of the girls would “face the full force of the law for their heinous actions.”
This case highlights ongoing concerns about vigilante justice and the treatment of suspected criminals in Nigeria, particularly involving minors.
The incident draws attention to the broader issue of jungle justice in Nigeria, where suspects are sometimes subjected to mob action rather than being handed over to proper law enforcement authorities.
