Police nab female students over viral assault video in Plateau

The Police Command in Plateau has arrested some female students over a viral video showing them allegedly attacking another female student in Pankshin Local Government Area.

The Command spokesman, SP Alfred Alabo, disclosed this in a statement on Friday in Jos.

Alabo said the Commissioner of Police, CP Ayodeji Faniyan, directed the Area Commander in Pankshin to investigate and arrest those involved immediately.

“Immediately the CP got wind of it, he directed the Area Commander in Pankshin LGC to act immediately, which they have done,” he said.

Alabo said the arrested students would be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID) after preliminary investigations.

He added that the suspects would subsequently be charged in court after the conclusion of investigations.

He condemned the alleged attack, describing jungle justice and other forms of violence as criminal offences.

He said recording and uploading violent acts on social media could also expose perpetrators to additional criminal charges, including cybercrime-related offences.

“In the process of committing this crime, sometimes you will commit several other crimes,

“It is not just you beating somebody or meting violence against your fellow human being; even having the mind to record it is cybercrime,” Alabo said.

He urged youths and other residents to refrain from taking the law into their hands, irrespective of the circumstances surrounding any disagreement.

“Learn to report to a third party that has the authority to hear your matter and give you the justice that you deserve,” he said.

Alabo urged residents to report grievances and criminal incidents to the Police or other appropriate security agencies rather than resorting to violence.

He also appealed to members of the public to continue providing timely and credible information to security agencies.

He said such information would enable security agencies to promptly intervene and prevent situations from escalating.

Alabo reiterated that the arrested students would be transferred to the State CID and subsequently charged in court after investigations.

“Stay clear of jungle justice. Report cases anytime you are aggrieved to the right and appropriate authority,” Alabo said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the girls are students of the Federal University of Education in Pankshin.