The Plateau State Police Command has arrested some female students of the Federal University of Education, Pankshin, following a viral video showing them allegedly assaulting another female student.
The incident reportedly occurred in Pankshin Local Government Area of Plateau State and was said to have been triggered by a dispute involving a boyfriend.
The command’s spokesperson, SP Alfred Alabo, disclosed the arrests in a statement issued at the weekend.
According to Alabo, the Commissioner of Police, Ayodeji Faniyan, directed the Area Commander in Pankshin to immediately investigate the incident and arrest those involved.
“Immediately the CP got wind of it, he directed the Area Commander in Pankshin LGC to act immediately, which they have done,” Alabo said.
He explained that the arrested students would be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID) after preliminary investigations.
The suspects are expected to be charged to court after the completion of investigations.
Alabo condemned the alleged assault, warning residents against resorting to jungle justice or other forms of violence when dealing with disputes.
He also cautioned that recording and sharing violent acts on social media could expose perpetrators to additional criminal charges, including offences relating to cybercrime.
“In the process of committing this crime, sometimes you will commit several other crimes,” he said.
“It is not just you beating somebody or meting violence against your fellow human being; even having the mind to record it is cybercrime.”
The police spokesperson urged youths and other members of the public to avoid taking the law into their own hands, regardless of the circumstances surrounding a disagreement.
He advised residents to report grievances and criminal incidents to the police or other appropriate authorities rather than resorting to violence.
“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 also appealed to members of the public to provide security agencies with timely and credible information, saying such cooperation would enable the authorities to intervene quickly and prevent disputes from escalating.
The police reiterated that the arrested students would be transferred to the State CID and prosecuted in accordance with the law if investigations establish their involvement in the alleged assault.
