Outrage as soldiers allegedly assault Delta Polytechnic student for resisting induction into worship

There was outrage on Monday following allegations that soldiers of the Nigerian Army, 63rd 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 brutalized on May 1 in Ogwashi-Uku, Delta State, after resisting attempts by alleged cultists to forcibly induct him into their group.

Images showing the student with serious injuries have since circulated on social media, triggering public condemnation and calls for justice.

Narrating his story, the student said the problems started when some youths approached him and pressured him to join their sectarian group, a request he refused.

He said: “They confiscated my phone and I tried to get it back. The owner of the hotel where they were drinking called the soldiers. When the soldiers arrived, they talked to the boys and then turned on me, beating me.”

The incident attracted the attention of activist Harrison Gwamnishu, who condemned the soldiers’ alleged conduct and called for their immediate arrest and trial.

Gwamnishu, in a social media post, questioned the relationship between security agents and criminal elements, claiming that the soldiers failed to arrest the suspected cultists but instead subjected the victim to a serious assault.

He said: “It is disturbing that those who are supposed to protect citizens would allegedly side with suspected criminals to brutalize an innocent student who refused to engage in worship.”

The activist also warned young Nigerians against joining sectarian groups, stressing that such associations often result in violence and legal consequences.

At the time of filing this report, the 63rd Brigade had not yet released an official statement on the incident.

Attempts to contact the acting director of Army Public Relations, Onyinyechi Apollonia Anele, were unsuccessful as his phone line was unreachable.

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