There was outrage in Bayelsa State following reports that the police had released Kadi Bae, a 200 Level student key suspect in a viral assault video for assaulting and stripping a 19-year-old girl, Ifedi Nancy, a small business owner from Imo State.
In a petition to the Bayelsa State Commissioner of Police, the victim, 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 the 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.
“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 faulted 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, condemned the assault on her official Facebook page, describing it as barbaric and harmful to the mental health of victims.
Bob 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 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.”
RATTAWU women leader in the state, Comr. Fortune Banigo-Lawal expressed pain, saying “those girls should be brought to book.”
For his part, 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 deterrence to others.”
