The Edo State Government has announced that the parents of students involved in a viral assault at Igbinedion Education Centre, a private secondary school in Benin City, will face prosecution. The state has directed its Police Command to investigate the matter.
The disclosure was made on Monday by the State Commissioner for Information, Kassim Afegbua, during an appearance on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily. Afegbua described the incident as “disturbing” and noted that Governor Monday Okpebholo’s administration has set up a committee to examine the case.
“It is quite disturbing when we heard it. We were just wondering what could have warranted this,” Afegbua said. “It is very unacceptable; there would be no justification for that kind of treatment. We took an action that led to the expulsion of the students involved.
“It is not just about the expulsion; we also directed the police to make sure that those students are properly arrested and made to face the full wrath of the law.”
Afegbua condemned the viral video and assured the public that legal action will be taken against those responsible. He added that the Edo State Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, has assured the government that the parents of the students involved will report to the police headquarters in Benin City.
He stressed that the police are determined to prosecute the culprits upon conclusion of the investigation to prevent a recurrence. Afegbua also called on parents and teachers to remain vigilant, emphasising that a school such as Igbinedion Education Centre should have a strict code of ethics, discipline, and internal monitoring of students.
In the widely circulated footage, two students were seen repeatedly beating, kicking, and dragging a younger boy, believed to be in a junior class. One attacker struck the victim with a belt, while another stomped on his chest, leaving him crying in pain. The reason for the assault remains unclear, though another student recording the video could be heard pleading with the attackers to stop.