Bullies of Edo
By Our Reporter The police in Edo State are working to pin down students of Igbinedion Education Centre, a private secondary school in Benin City, shown in a video that
By Our Reporter
The police in Edo State are working to pin down students of Igbinedion Education Centre, a private secondary school in Benin City, shown in a video that recently ran viral assaulting a schoolmate. They’ve tasked the management of the school and parents of the assaulted student to assist with fishing out the bullies.
In a footage that circulated widely on X last weekend, two male students of the centre were recorded beating and kicking another student suspected to be from a junior class lying on the floor. One of the attackers used a belt-whip on the assaulted student, with the other taking over by dragging the victim across the floor and stomping on his chest – leaving him crying in pain.
A third student filmed the encounter and could be heard pleading with the assaulters to stop. The reason for the brutal assault was not clear.
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The video outraged members of the public, including authorities having oversight responsibility on the affected school. Edo State Government described the incident as “very unacceptable” and urged the police to do everything possible to bring the bullies to justice.
Commissioner for Information Kassim Afegbua, speaking on national television, said the Governor Monday Okpebholo-led administration found the incident disturbing and had raised a probe panel. He strongly condemned the assault, assuring that the law would take its course on anyone found culpable.
According to Afegbua, Edo State Commissioner of Police (CP) Monday Agbonika, has assured the state government that parents of students involved in the incident would be invited to the police headquarters in Benin. He added that the CP was keen on prosecuting the culprits upon conclusion of investigation to avoid a repeat incident.
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Earlier, Edo State Ministry of Education said the incident ran contrary to the values of discipline, respect and safety that all educational institutions in the state were expected to uphold. It vowed to tackle down the culprits. In a statement, the ministry added: “Appropriate disciplinary measures will be taken against anyone found responsible in accordance with the rules and regulations guiding conduct in schools within Edo State. The ministry will not tolerate acts of bullying, violence, or any form of misconduct that threatens the safety of students.”
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Even the school involved described the incident as disturbing and contrary to values it upholds. It affirmed zero-tolerance for bullying, intimidation, harassment, cultism and any form of violence, adding in a statement: “Following an investigation, the students responsible have been expelled from the school with immediate effect. Such conduct will never be tolerated within our school community.” Reports clarified that the student who did the filming was only suspended.
Speaking through a statement, Igbinedion Centre said the incident had been reported to relevant authorities, and it was co-operating fully with them. It noted that the students involved were minors. “We are providing support to those affected and are working closely with their families to ensure the matter is addressed with the seriousness it deserves,” the statement added.
There were indications, though, that the police were struggling to get a handle on the case. The state police command spokesperson, Eno Ikoedem, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), was reported detailing efforts the command had made but yet to apprehend the bullies. According to her, the police investigative panel had extended its probe to the school and invited the management to assist in identifying and producing the students involved in the assault.
She also said the police were waiting for the victim’s parents to lodge a formal complaint by which the assaulted student could identify his attackers, adding that expelling the students from school was not enough as the law needs to take its course in line with their ages.
“We are inviting the school authorities to hand over the students, particularly those involved in the bullying act. We don’t know these students, even the victim himself – we don’t know him. That is why we are calling on the victim to come forward; if the victim can come to us, he should be able to identify them,” she stated.
We urge that every required support be given the police, especially by the management of Igbinedion Centre. The school knows the identity of the affected students and has their addresses, even when they’ve been expelled.
There were speculations that the incident might be connected with cult initiation. So, it is in the best interest of the school authorities to cooperate in efforts to unearth the root cause.
Bullying is a recurring menace in Nigerian schools, and it was a lucky thing that the Edo incident did not result in fatality as obtained in cases elsewhere. But tough talk is not enough; concrete steps must be taken to deter a recurrence.
