The Edo State Police Command has arrested students linked to a widely circulated bullying incident at Igbinedion Education Centre, following public outrage over a disturbing video shared online.
The arrests come days after footage surfaced on X showing a student being physically attacked by his peers, an incident that quickly drew condemnation and renewed concerns over safety in Nigerian secondary schools.
Confirming the development, police authorities said all those directly connected to the case have been identified and taken into custody, with legal proceedings already underway.
In a statement issued on Saturday, police spokesperson Eno Ikoedem said the suspects would face charges in line with juvenile justice provisions.
“Following a thorough and painstaking investigation, the command confirms that all individuals directly connected to the incident have been identified, while those implicated have been apprehended and are being charged to the family court in accordance with extant laws guiding juvenile justice and child protection,” the statement reads.
The now-viral clip, which triggered the police action, showed two male students assaulting a fellow student who lay on the ground unable to defend himself. One of the attackers was seen grabbing the victim’s clothing and repeatedly stomping on him as he cried out in distress.
The incident sparked widespread outrage, prompting swift action from school authorities, who subsequently expelled the students involved.
Authorities say the response goes beyond arrests, with broader preventive measures being introduced across the state’s school system. According to Ikoedem, the Commissioner of Police has ordered the immediate expansion of safety operations in schools.
He said, “the commissioner of police has ordered the immediate deployment and intensification of the Operation Safe Schools initiative across secondary schools in the state,” adding that the move is aimed at identifying lapses in supervision and applying lessons from the incident to prevent a recurrence.
In addition, the command is scaling up advocacy efforts targeted at students and school administrators.
“Additionally, the Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices has been mobilised to engage students and school administrators through advocacy, sensitisation, and reorientation programmes,” the PPRO said.
“While appealing to members of the public to remain calm, the command assures that proactive steps were being taken to ensure that justice is not only served but that measures are also emplaced to prevent a recurrence,” the statement added.
