12-Year-Old Hospitalised After Man Allegedly Forces Him To Eat Faeces in Delta
A 12-year-old boy, Marvelous Jonathan, is currently hospitalised after a man identified as Godspower Idoho allegedly forced him to eat both fresh and dried faeces as punishment for defecating in his uncompleted building in the Isiokolo community, Delta State.
The incident, which occurred on April 9, 2025, reportedly involved Godspower and his friend, Abel Esowhode, who caught the boy in the act during an evening visit to the property.
A family source told SaharaReporters that Godspower instructed Abel to hold the boy while he went to fetch his wife and a cane.
Upon returning, the trio allegedly beat Marvelous severely before compelling him to eat his own faeces.
They also forced him to consume five other dried faeces found around the site.
The source said, โGodspower immediately instructed Abel to hold the boy while he rushed home to fetch his wife and a cane. Upon returning, the trio reportedly subjected Marvelous to a brutal beating before forcing him to eat his own faeces. Shockingly, they then took him around the building and forced him to consume additional dried faeces left by othersโamounting to five different portion.”
After the abuse, the boy was reportedly given a sachet of water and returned to his mother.
โLater that night, Marvelousโs stomach began to swell, and he fainted around 2 a.m. He was rushed to the hospital, where he remains under intensive care,” the source added.
Despite reporting the case to the police, the family claims officers advised them to settle the matter privately.
The suspect was initially arrested and charged before a magistrate court but was granted bail after denying the allegations.
Authorities reportedly cited a lack of evidence pending a medical report from the hospital.
The Executive Assistant to the Governor on Security, Engr. Udoka Emmanuel Chika-Dibie, confirmed the incident and pledged to pursue justice for the victim.
โI will take the matter up for the boy to get justice,โ he said, emphasising the governmentโs zero tolerance for abuse and its commitment to protecting citizens’ rights, especially the vulnerable.
Delta-based human rights activist, Comrade Israel Joe, criticised the handling of the case.
He said, โThe medical report is the key issue now. They charged him to a magistrate court, but I insisted he should have been charged under the VAP (Violence Against Persons) Law because this constitutes an unnatural offence.
“He should have been charged at a high court, where bail is not typically granted for such cases. Instead, it seems the case is being treated as a matter of the manโs word against the boyโs, as no incriminating evidence has been found. The suspect has denied everything.
“The only thing we are waiting for is the doctorโs report. The doctor treating the boy at the general hospital must confirm whether the boyโs symptoms align with the allegationsโthat he was forced to consume faeces. If the medical report supports the claim, we can proceed with stronger charges.โ
The matter is scheduled to be heard again on Thursday, April 17, 2025.
Delta State Police Command spokesperson, DSP Edafe Bright, confirmed that the case is in court.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
