There was outrage on Monday following allegations that soldiers attached to the Nigerian Army, 63 Brigade, Asaba, assaulted a student of Delta State Polytechnic, Ogwashi-Uku for refusing to join a cult group.
The victim, identified simply as Francis, was said to have been brutalised on May 1 in Ogwashi-Uku, Delta State, after resisting attempts by suspected cultists to forcibly induct him into their group.
Images showing the student with severe injuries have since circulated on social media, triggering public condemnation and calls for justice.
Narrating his ordeal, the student alleged that trouble started when some youths accosted him and pressured him to join their cult group, a demand he declined.
He said, “They seized my phone and I tried to retrieve it. The owner of the hotel where they were drinking called soldiers. When the soldiers arrived, they spoke with the boys and then turned on me, beating me.”
The incident drew the attention of activist Harrison Gwamnishu, who condemned the alleged conduct of the soldiers and demanded their immediate arrest and prosecution.
Gwamnishu, in a post on social media, questioned the relationship between security operatives and criminal elements, alleging that the soldiers failed to apprehend the suspected cultists but instead subjected the victim to severe assault.
He said, “It is disturbing that those meant to protect citizens would allegedly side with suspected criminals to brutalise an innocent student who refused to engage in cultism.”
The activist also warned Nigerian youths against joining cult groups, noting that such associations often end in violence and legal consequences.
As of the time of filing this report, the 63 Brigade had yet to issue an official statement on the incident.
Efforts to reach the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Onyinyechi Apollonia Anele, were unsuccessful as her telephone line was not reachable.
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