Viral Video of School Assault Sparks Crackdown as Edo State Government Orders Arrest of Parties Involved
Child safeguarding concerns have deepened following fresh actions taken by the Edo State Government over the bullying incident at Igbinedion Education Centre in Benin City, where a viral video showed students violently attacking a fellow student within the school premises.
In response to the growing public concern, the state government has now ordered the arrest and prosecution of the students involved, stressing that violence against children must attract both disciplinary and legal consequences. The directive came after authorities reviewed the disturbing footage circulating on social media, which captured the affected person being beaten, kicked and dragged while crying in distress.
The state Commissioner for Information, Kassim Afegbua, described the incident as disturbing and completely unacceptable, noting that the government acted swiftly once the video surfaced online. He confirmed that the school management had already expelled the students responsible, but emphasized that expulsion alone does not adequately address the seriousness of the abuse.
According to him, the government has directed the Edo State Police Command to ensure the students involved are arrested and investigated in line with the law. Police authorities have also confirmed that a detailed inquiry is underway, with parents of the students expected to present them as part of the investigative process.
In addition to the police investigation, the Edo State Ministry of Education has constituted a five-member committee to examine the circumstances surrounding the incident and identify all those connected to it.
For child protection advocates, the government’s intervention signals a stronger recognition that safeguarding failures in schools require broader institutional responses. While disciplinary action within schools is important, ensuring accountability through proper investigation and legal processes is also critical in reinforcing the message that violence against any affected person will not be tolerated in learning environments.
