Teenager Kidnapped and Bullied by Schoolmates in South Central Island

Police are investigating reports of a teenage boy being kidnapped from his home, stripped, and blackmailed by a group of his peers on a south-central island.

The incident came to light when the boy’s mother, a teacher at the school, shared details on social media Tuesday evening. Her post included screenshots of threatening messages from the alleged perpetrators, who claim to have footage of the victim tied to a palm tree after being forcibly stripped.

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According to the mother’s account, the suspects – led by a student in Grade 9 in the same school – entered the family home and gained access to the boy’s room through a window whilst he was asleep. They allegedly threatened his life if he refused to accompany them. The group then took the victim to a nearby palm grove, where they reportedly stripped him, physically assaulted him with a stick, and recorded the ordeal.

The perpetrators are said to have shared the video in an Instagram group full of the victim’s peers, using it as leverage to extort money from him. They also issued further death threats.

“Is there a more serious crime than this?” the mother wrote in her social media post. She identified the ringleader as a Grade 9 student, expressing concern about potential leniency due to the suspect’s age. “How do I get justice for my son?” she added.

A police spokesperson confirmed they are aware of the allegations following the social media post and said that they are working to gather more information about the incident.

This case follows public outrage over a separate video depicting the assault of a boy in a local mosque in Rasdhoo in April, raising concerns about juvenile delinquency.