The Bayelsa State Police Command has launched a manhunt for four girls allegedly involved in a case of indecent assault, attempted murder, cyberbullying, cyber stalking and adoption.
A statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Musa Mohammed, on Wednesday, said the manhunt was a result of public outcry in the petition raised by Miss Nancy Wilfred of Ighvie Town, Ughelli, in Delta State, on her ordeal at the hands of the suspects.
Nancy, who originally hailed from Imo State and relocated to Ughelli in Delta State, owns a small business at Edepie in Yenagoa, where she was assaulted on August 29, 2025.
The 19 year-old took to social media to reveal her ugly experience and also petitioned the police over the alleged release of the suspects on bail after they were arrested on the same day.
Reactions trailed the incident from the Technical Advisor to the Governor on Girl Child Development, Dr Helen Bob, Radio, Television and Theatre Workers Union, Nigerian Association of Women Journalists and Association of Women Against Gender Based Violence.
Very Dark Man offered two million for anyone with information leading to the arrest of the culprits, while an ex-agitator, Paul Eris and a leadership consultant, Dr Ayibapreye Isaac Benson, all condemned the act.
The police statement read, “Following public interest on the indecent assault, attempted murder, grievous hurt, cyber bullying, cyber stalking and adoption of Miss Nancy Wilfred, of Ighvie Town Ughelli, Delta State, but resident in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, and the viral video of the incident, the Bayelsa State Police Commissioner has inducted a criminal investigation into the incident, to bring the culprits to justice.
“Today, 3rd September, 2025, an exploratory interactive session was held with the victim, which later led to further sessions with some CBOs and gender organisations. Full declarations and disclosures were made by the victim, relating the extent of abuse and dehumanisation inflicted on her.
“The Commissioner of Police, Bayelsa State Command, CP. Alonyenu Francis Idu is appealing to members of the public and good citizens of Bayelsa to curtail further regurgitation of the sensational and untoward images, as this can further impel the victim to crack and melt down psychologically. We should all invest efforts to aid the recovery of the victim from the trauma caused by the incident.
“Appropriate measures are on going to apprehend the vicious citizens who carried out this callous act on a hapless young girl.”
After submitting her petition at the Bayelsa State Police Headquarters, Nancy explained in a Facebook post 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 a little issue, I had to leave her house to my friend’s house, Charity, at AMS. ”
“They called me to say that I should come and pick up my clothes from the dry cleaner 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, and even before I could say a word, they started hitting me with hard objects.”
She identified her assailants as Becky, Blessing, Favour and Miracle, saying, “Miracle was the one videoing, Becky was the one pulling off my clothes, Kadi was the one cutting my hair with a knife, threatening to stab me if I said a word. She was even the one who blew my eyes.”
On her health, she said: “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.”
Nancy expressed frustration that, despite the arrest of Kadi, the primary suspect was allegedly released to walk free.
She said: “I don’t know the person who 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 of today, their phones are switched off. I went to her house, but nobody was there.”
A close friend of Nancy, who witnessed the process, said, “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 that any girl had been brought there. When they finally arrived, she was so free. I even questioned her, and she insulted me in front of the policeman.”
Technical Adviser to the Governor on Girl Child Development, Dr Helen Bob, described it as barbaric and harmful to the mental health of victims and called for kindness, respect, and firm action to stop such acts and ensure girls are safe.
She wrote on Facebook: “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.”
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 a deterrent to others.
In a joint statement, NAWOJ Chairperson in Bayelsa State, Mrs Grace Orumieyefa, described the incident as barbaric, inhumane, and a grave violation of the victim’s dignity and rights.
NAWOJ called on the police and other relevant authorities to immediately investigate the matter and bring the culprits to justice without delay, while urging 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.
A statement by the President, Association of Women Against Gender Based Violence, Dr Dise Ogbise Goddy Harry said, “This ordinarily is 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 on the front burner of 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.”
In May 2024, PUNCH Online reported that the Nigeria Police Force declared a Lagos socialite and blogger, Dorcas Adeyinka, wanted for alleged cyber-stalking, abduction and murder, among others.
The police urged members of the public to “arrest and hand over the suspect to the nearest police station or the office of the IGP Monitoring Unit, Force Headquarters, Abuja.”
The police further described Adeyinka as a married female Yoruba blogger from Ekiti State and Ibadan, Oyo State capital.
She is said to be approximately 1.64m tall with an oval face, tribal marks, pointed nose, wide mouth, full and white dentition, and light-skinned with black eyes.
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