The Edo State Government has announced that the parents of the students involved in the viral bullying incident at Igbinedion Education Centre will be prosecuted, as authorities intensify investigations into the assault that has sparked widespread outrage across Nigeria .
State Commissioner for Information, Kassim Afegbua, disclosed this on Monday during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme, describing the incident as deeply disturbing and unacceptable .
“It is quite disturbing when we heard it. We were just wondering what could have warranted this. It is very unacceptable; there would be no justification for that kind of treatment,” Afegbua said .
Afegbua revealed that the state government had already taken steps that led to the expulsion of the students involved, while directing the police to ensure they are arrested and prosecuted .
“We took action almost immediately that led to the expulsion of the students involved. But it is not just about expulsion; we also directed the police to make sure the students are properly arrested and made to face the full wrath of the law,” he stated .
The commissioner disclosed that the Edo State Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, had confirmed that authorities have tracked down the students involved and instructed them to report to the police command with their parents by 10 a.m. on Monday .
Afegbua noted that although the suspects are minors, the law provides measures for dealing with such cases. “Even though they are minors, there are juvenile correctional centres that they can keep them in if the court finds them guilty,” he explained .
The information commissioner emphasised that the Commissioner of Police had assured the state government that parents of the affected students would report to the police headquarters in Benin City for questioning before the case proceeds to court .
“He told me he is expecting the parents to bring the students involved, and after investigations, they will be charged in court,” Afegbua said .
Describing the incident as a wake-up call to parents and teachers, he stressed the need for stronger supervision and discipline in schools to prevent similar occurrences .
“This is a boarding school, so students are under the supervision of their teachers while parents are away. But when they return home, how do we find out what they are doing? This boy could have just passed on from the level of physical assault, and we may not have known if videos were not shown,” Afegbua added .
Afegbua revealed that a five-member committee set up by the Edo State government had already arrived at the school by 9 a.m. on Monday to gather information and begin an independent investigation into the incident and the institution’s disciplinary structure .
“We will gather all relevant information and evaluate it based on what is expected of an institution,” he said .
The committee will determine the circumstances surrounding the incident and identify all students found culpable, as authorities intensify efforts to address the recurring issue of school bullying .
Meanwhile, the family of one of the students involved has issued a heartfelt apology to the victim, his family, and the school community .
In a statement issued on Sunday and signed by Tim Asoro on behalf of the Asoro family, the parents expressed shock and deep embarrassment over the incident .
“Watching the video has been one of the most distressing and heartbreaking experiences of our lives as parents. We have watched it with shock, sadness, and deep embarrassment,” the statement read .
“As a family, we are ashamed that our child was involved in conduct that caused pain and distress to another student,” it added .
The family apologised directly to the victim and his relatives, stating: “To the student who was affected, we want to say from the depths of our hearts that we are truly sorry. No child deserves to be treated that way. As parents, we cannot begin to imagine how frightening and hurtful the moment must have been for him. Our hearts go out to him and his family” .
While expressing relief that medical reports confirmed the victim was physically unharmed, the family acknowledged the seriousness of the incident and the emotional distress it may have caused .
They also extended apologies to the school management, teachers, parents, and students of Igbinedion Education Centre, noting that it “deeply saddens us that our son’s actions have brought distress and negative attention to the school community” .
The family disclosed that they had held serious discussions with their son, who expressed deep remorse for his actions and understands the consequences .
“He understands that what happened has consequences not only for himself but also for another child, the school, and our entire family. We do not excuse what happened. It was wrong, and we are determined that our son must learn from this moment,” the statement read .
“We are already taking steps to ensure that he receives the guidance, counseling, and moral support necessary to help him reflect, grow, and become a better and more compassionate young person,” the family added .
Details of the incident
In the footage circulating widely on social media, two male students were seen repeatedly beating, kicking, and dragging a boy believed to be in a junior class on the floor .
One attacker used a belt during the assault, while another stomped on the victim’s chest, leaving him crying in pain . A third student, believed to be recording the video, was heard pleading with the attackers to stop .
The reason for the assault remains unclear as of the time of filing this report . The video sparked widespread outrage on social media, with many Nigerians condemning the act .
Pop star Davido reacted to the video on X, describing the action as “disgusting” and referring to the aggressors as “animals” .
The school management had earlier announced the immediate expulsion of the students involved, stating that their zero-tolerance policy toward bullying had been violated .
The incident has drawn comparisons to a 2024 bullying case at Lead British International School in Abuja, where a female student was repeatedly slapped by fellow students .
