A Federal University Otuoke student has been arrested after a viral video showed her and others assaulting and stripping a female colleague.
The Zone 16 Command of the Nigeria Police Force has confirmed the arrest of a female student of the Federal University, Otuoke (FUO), identified as Kadi, for allegedly leading a violent assault on a fellow student.
The shocking incident, which was captured in a viral video, has generated widespread condemnation from the public, women’s groups, and civil society organizations.
The disturbing footage, which surfaced on Facebook on Sunday, showed three young women physically brutalizing another student, later identified as Nancy.
The attackers were seen slapping and punching her repeatedly, before stripping her completely naked in full public view.
In the same footage, one of the assailants used a sharp object to cut off the victim’s braided hair, leaving her humiliated and traumatized.
Initial reports indicate that the attack stemmed from allegations that Nancy had insulted Kadi’s grandmother by calling her “smelling.”
However, police authorities have emphasized that regardless of the provocation, the actions of the suspects amounted to criminal assault, public humiliation, and gross violation of human rights.
Acting swiftly, operatives of Zone 16—under the directive of the Commissioner of Police, CP Francis Idu—collaborated with FUO’s internal security to track down and arrest Kadi, who is said to be a student in the Department of Social Work at the university.
The arrest was carried out on campus, and the suspect was immediately handed over to police authorities for further investigation.
Following her arrest, a phone conversation between Kadi and an unidentified man surfaced online, further drawing attention to the case.
In the recording, which was also uploaded to Facebook, Kadi admitted she had been picked up by security operatives.
She stated: “A group of Civil Defense officers came to arrest me. They are taking me to the school authority, and after that, I will be moved to Zone 16 in Yenagoa.”
The unidentified man also asked Kadi whether the attack had anything to do with her former boyfriend, popularly known as Upcoming, as speculated on social media.
She denied the rumor, saying: “No, nothing concerns Upcoming. We are not dating again. Today makes it one month since I stopped dating him and I have not spoken to him since then.
“Somebody insulted my grandmother, saying she was smelling, and you said I should not beat her.”
The shocking assault has provoked outrage among gender advocacy groups, who have described the act as shameful, barbaric, and deeply concerning.
In a joint statement released on Monday, the Association of Women Against Gender-Based Violence (AWAGBV) and the Do Foundation condemned the actions of the suspects.
President of AWAGBV, Dr. Dise Harry, expressed deep disappointment, noting that the perpetrators, who should have been ambassadors of discipline and responsibility, instead engaged in violence that has now brought negative attention to young women.
“This incident is both sad and embarrassing. It is disturbing that my own gender is trending on social media for the wrong reasons, engaging in acts of violence and humiliation against a fellow woman.
The video raises critical concerns around assault, physical harm, threat to life, character assassination, and cybercrime,” she said.
Dr. Harry further urged security agencies to take decisive action, stressing that cases like this must not be swept under the carpet. She emphasized that ensuring justice would serve as both a deterrent and a reminder that violence, especially against women, must not be tolerated in society.
Meanwhile, police authorities have reassured the public that the case is receiving full attention.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Francis Idu, has directed investigators to ensure that all individuals involved in the assault—both those captured on camera and those behind the scenes—are brought to book.
The investigation is currently ongoing at the Zone 16 Police Headquarters in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, and further updates are expected in the coming days.