By Our Correspondent
National News – Authorities in Edo State have confirmed the arrest of several secondary school students involved in a disturbing bullying incident that went viral on social media.
The Edo State Police Command said those implicated in the attack will be prosecuted at the Family Court under laws guiding juvenile justice and child protection in Nigeria.
According to the police, investigations were launched after a widely circulated video showed two male students violently attacking a fellow student while another student recorded the incident.
The footage triggered public outrage across the country, with many Nigerians calling for accountability and stronger action against school bullying.
In the viral video, one of the attackers was seen dragging the victim by his school uniform and repeatedly stomping on his chest while the victim cried in pain.
A third student recording the assault could be heard pleading with the attackers to stop, but the assault continued.
Police spokesperson Eno Ikoedem said investigations revealed that the conflict began on March 5, 2026, following a disagreement involving two 14-year-old female students and another student.
During the confrontation, the student allegedly made a provocative remark about the girls’ late father, reportedly saying “Ogun kill your papa,” which angered them.
The altercation reportedly escalated after school hours when the girls allegedly attacked the student involved in the argument.
During the incident, a woman who arrived to pick up her son attempted to intervene but was also reportedly assaulted and had her clothes dragged by the students.
School authorities later expelled the students involved due to their violent conduct. However, tensions continued to rise the following day.
Police said the son of the woman who was attacked later carried out a revenge assault against the brother of the girls involved in the earlier fight.
That retaliatory attack was the incident captured in the viral video and circulated online.
Following the controversy, the Edo State Commissioner of Police ordered the immediate expansion of the Operation Safe Schools Initiative across secondary schools in the state.
The initiative aims to strengthen supervision, identify security gaps, and prevent bullying or violence among students.
Authorities also plan to deploy the Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices to educate students and school administrators on peaceful conflict resolution.
Parents and guardians have been urged to monitor their children closely while schools are encouraged to promote discipline and non-violent dispute resolution among students.
