The Edo State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of all students involved in a viral bullying and assault incident at Igbinedion Education Centre, following widespread public outrage over the disturbing footage.
Police spokesperson, Eno Ikoedem, said the arrests came after a “thorough and painstaking investigation.”
She noted that the suspects, all identified as minors, will be arraigned before a Family Court in accordance with laws governing juvenile justice and child protection.
In a related development, the families of the affected students identified as the Asoro and Uyi families have issued formal apologies over the incident.
According to the police, the violence originated from an earlier dispute involving two female students and a male student.
During the altercation, the boy allegedly made a provocative remark about the girls’ late father, saying, “Ogun kill your papa.”
The comment reportedly triggered an after-school attack by the girls.
Police said the situation escalated when a parent who arrived to pick up her child attempted to intervene.
“Angered by the remark, the girls attacked the student after school hours. When a parent stepped in, they turned on her, physically confronting her and tearing her clothes,” the statement said. The school management later expelled the girls over the incident.
The crisis further intensified the next day when the son of the assaulted woman carried out a revenge attack.
“On the following day, the male student, whose mother had been assaulted, attacked the victim seen in the viral video in what has been identified as a retaliatory act. The victim is the brother of the girls involved in the earlier assault,” police added.
Reacting to the incident, Commissioner of Police Monday Agbonika ordered a statewide reinforcement of the Operation Safe Schools Initiative to address security and supervision gaps in secondary schools.
The command also announced the mobilisation of its advocacy unit, the Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices, POCACOV, to intensify sensitisation and reorientation programmes for students and school authorities to prevent a recurrence.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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