BENINI-CITY: The Edo State Government has ordered the arrest and prosecution of students involved in a viral bullying incident at Igbinedion Education Centre, declaring that such acts will not be tolerated.
The incident gained public attention on Friday after a disturbing video circulated on social media showing two male students physically assaulting another student who was lying helpless on the ground.
In the footage, one of the alleged bullies was seen grabbing the victim by his school uniform and repeatedly stomping on his chest while the boy cried out in pain.
A third student, believed to be recording the incident, could be heard pleading with the attackers to stop.
The video sparked widespread outrage online, prompting swift action from the school authorities, who subsequently expelled the students involved.
Speaking during an interview on channels Television, the Edo State Commissioner for Information, Kassim Afegbua, confirmed that the students would face prosecution.
Three students were involved. The Commissioner of Police has asked the parents and the culprits to come forward, and they will definitely face prosecution, Afegbua said.
He noted that although the students are minors, they could still be held in juvenile correctional centres if the court decides to proceed with legal action.
Afegbua described the incident as deeply troubling, stressing that it raises serious concerns about student supervision and discipline in schools.
This is a boarding school where students are under the supervision of teachers while their parents are away. But when they return home, how do we monitor what they are doing? he asked.
According to the commissioner, the governor of the state, Monday Okpebholo, has directed the state’s Commissioner of Police to ensure that the case is thoroughly investigated and that appropriate charges are filed against those involved.
He added that a five-member investigative committee set up by the state government has begun work at the school to gather statements from witnesses, including individuals willing to provide information anonymously.
Afegbua also revealed that more reports of similar incidents had begun to surface, suggesting that bullying might be more widespread than previously known.
We will gather all relevant information and assess the situation based on what is expected of an educational institution, he said.
The government reiterated its commitment to protecting students and ensuring that schools remain safe environments for learning.
