Sunday, March, 21 2026 - The Edo State Police Command has announced that all suspects linked to the bullying incident at Igbinedion Education Centre have been apprehended.
This comes a week after disturbing footage, which circulated
widely on social media, showed the victim being flogged, punched, kicked in the
stomach, and stamped on the head and ribs by fellow students.
The management of the school has since expelled several
students involved in the disturbing act.
Authorities in Edo State have confirmed that all the
suspects involved in the bullying at the Igbinedion Education Centre have been
arrested.
The state command, in a statement by its spokesman, Eno
Ikoedem, said the arrests were made after investigation, and the suspects would
be charged to the family court in accordance with laws guiding juvenile justice
and child protection.
The statement read, “The Edo State Police Command wishes to
update the general public on the viral bullying incident which has generated
widespread concern and public reactions across the state.
“Following a thorough and painstaking investigation, the
Command confirms that all individuals directly connected to the incident have
been identified, while those implicated have been apprehended and are being
charged to the family court in accordance with extant laws guiding juvenile
justice and child protection.
“Preliminary investigations revealed that the incident
originated on Thursday 5/03/2026 when two female students, names withheld, both
aged 14, had a disagreement with a fellow student. During the altercation, the
said student reportedly uttered offensive words directed at their late father,
specifically saying, ‘Ogun kill your papa.’
“Angered by the remark, the girls allegedly attacked the
student after school hours. In the course of the assault, a parent, who had
come to pick up her son, intervened but the two girls, still enraged, turned on
the woman, physically confronting her and dragging her clothes. The school
management subsequently intervened and expelled the girls for engaging in
violent conduct.
“On the following day (06/03/2026), a retaliatory incident
occurred. The male student, whose mother was earlier assaulted, attacked the
victim in the viral video in what has been identified as a revenge assault,
which was recorded and posted by one of the students. The victim being the
brother of the girls that assaulted his mother.
“The Commissioner of Police has ordered the immediate
deployment and intensification of the Operation Safe Schools Initiative across
secondary schools in Edo State, with a mandate to identify the gap in
supervision and leverage lessons learnt in this matter, to prevent a
recurrence.
“Additionally, the Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other
Vices has been mobilised to engage students and school administrators through
advocacy, sensitisation, and reorientation programmes.
“The Command, therefore, urges parents, guardians, and
school authorities to take greater responsibility in the moral upbringing and
supervision of their children and wards, while advising students to shun
violence and report grievances through appropriate channels.
“While appealing to members of the public to remain calm,
the command assures that proactive steps were being taken to ensure that
justice is not only served but that measures are also emplaced to prevent a
reoccurrence.”
The command stated that it remained committed to maintaining
law and order and safeguarding all residents, especially children.
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