A social media firestorm has erupted after a video showing a student being bullied at Abuja’s Lead British International School (LBIS) went viral. The video sparked outrage, with netizens demanding action from the school and authorities.
The disturbing footage shows a student, identified as Maryam Hassan, slapping another female student repeatedly. The reported reason for the bullying is a dispute between the girls over a boy.
In a separate incident, a parent of a student who was bullied was caught on camera slapping the bully.
Social media has become a platform for condemnation of the bullying act. Many users expressed outrage and called for accountability from the school and the bully’s parents.
Tweeting particularly on their X handles with #JusticeForNamtira and #LeadBritishSchool, Nigerians mostly show their dismay.
Tweeting from the handle @madam_goziem said the girl was too calm and should have at least defended herself…
@timilehindan reacting to the fact that the girl at the centre of the incident has apologised, faulted the genuineness of the apology while wondering why no one has been penalised yet…
@batnabasjohn rather chose to warn parents to bring up their children well so they would not bully his own child or they would meet with trouble…
@REALLIFETALK shared a quote that speaks for itself…
@eobaniyi tweeted a quote purported to have been from the vulnerable students of the school saying bullying was a usual occurrence in the school with a video…
@miab_clothiers said the parents of the bully should be ashamed of who they raised…
@lisanwabia holds that although the bully has apologised, it is not enough…
@iu_wakilii observed that it is more than one girl that was bullying and that where is the other person…
For @aabagaye, Namtira’s parents will be heartbroken watching the video of Maryam bullying their daughter…
LBIS responded by condemning the incident and launching a full investigation. The school is providing counseling to the victim and has vowed to take disciplinary actions against the perpetrators. Additionally, LBIS is reviewing its anti-bullying policies and will implement educational programs to raise awareness about bullying and its consequences. The school has also made the decision to temporarily close its doors to allow for a thorough and uninterrupted investigation.
The school appealed to the public to stop sharing the video clips as it could further traumatise those involved.
Nigeria’s Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, following the public outcry, assured a prompt investigation into the allegations. The Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohaneye, also visited the school in a show of concern.
The FCT Police Command has deployed officers to the school to investigate the incident and prevent further occurrences.
The situation escalated further when a video emerged showing a parent of a bullied student confronting the bully and slapping her.
This incident has cast a spotlight on the issue of bullying in Nigerian schools, and it remains to be seen what measures will be taken to ensure the safety and well-being of all students.