● Police say Nancy Peter was flogged first by mother, then by pastor; child rights groups demand justice
A 14-year-old girl, Nancy Peter, has died after allegedly being beaten to death by her mother and a pastor in Wula Community, Eastern Boki, Boki LGA of Cross River State.
Cross River Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Sunday Eitokpah, said preliminary findings show the teenager was first assaulted by her mother, Mrs. Agnes Peter, 45, before being taken to Pastor Samson Roman Dago, 43, who allegedly subjected her to further corporal punishment with a cane over claims of theft.
Both mother and pastor are in custody as police begin a full-scale investigation to establish the exact circumstances and determine the level of involvement of all parties linked to the death.
—“No evidence of sexual assault yet”—
Police dismissed social media claims that the girl was sexually assaulted, saying no evidence has been found to support it. Medical examinations and other investigative steps are ongoing.
Village sources told _Vanguard_ the teenager became unconscious after the beating and was rushed to a medical facility in Wula, where doctors confirmed her dead on arrival.
—“Corporal punishment scars, not corrects”—
The death has sparked outrage and renewed debate on child protection and corporal punishment.
Child rights advocate James Ibor, Principal Counsel at Basic Rights Counsel Initiative, called it “reprehensible and heartbreaking that in 2026 this kind of barbaric act will still be happening after the Child Rights Act was passed in 2023.”
“Physical punishment does not correct children; it scars them, deepens fear, and can lead to irreversible harm. A child should never be disciplined to the point of collapse. This is a tragedy that should never have happened. The police must do everything possible to ensure the girl gets justice,” Ibor said.
The community remains in shock as calls grow for prosecution and stronger enforcement of child protection laws.
