A 17-year-old boy, Samuel Onyeme, was allegedly beaten and locked inside a dog cage on Sunday after visiting his female classmate at her residence in Asaba, Delta State.
According to eyewitness accounts, the incident occurred around 6 p.m. when Samuel went to see his friend following her invitation.
Recounting the ordeal, Samuel’s mother, Mrs. Onyeme, described the incident as traumatic. She said, “My son, Samuel, a Senior Secondary student, visited his classmate, at her house. While they were talking outside, her father and two brothers attacked him.
“They assaulted him on the street, dragged him into their compound, and inflicted serious injuries on him using wooden planks. They then locked him inside a dog cage. Worse still, they confiscated his mobile phone and lured me to their house under false pretenses. When I arrived, they denied me access to my son for two hours.”
Mrs. Onyeme added that her daughter, Jessica, was also assaulted when she tried to seek help and re-enter the compound.
The situation escalated further when Samuel’s elder brother, Ben, contacted a family friend, who alerted a human rights organization. The group, in turn, mobilized police officers, who rescued Samuel around 10 p.m.
Human rights activist Victor Ojei, who facilitated the rescue, condemned the act, describing it as “barbaric and inhumane.”
In a petition addressed to the Delta State Commissioner of Police, Ojei called for the immediate investigation and prosecution of the girls father and brothers for crimes including unlawful detention, assault, and attempted murder, as stipulated by Nigerian Criminal Law and the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act.
The petition, also copied to the Attorney General and the National Human Rights Commission in Asaba, highlighted the severity of the case. It noted that Samuel was detained for four hours in a dog cage and sustained multiple injuries, including psychological trauma.
Further allegations in the petition include threats to set Samuel ablaze, which constitute attempted murder under Section 320 of the Criminal Code Act.
Samuel is currently receiving treatment at Asaba hospital for the injuries and psychological harm he endured during the incident.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer for Delta State, SP Bright Edafe, said he had yet to receive a report on the matter as of the time of filing this report.
(Vanguard)
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