Protesters under the aegis of Concerned Citizens on Monday stormed Igbinedion Education Centre in Benin City to express outrage over a bullying incident involving some students of the school.
The protest followed viral videos showing a student being beaten, flogged and kicked by some supposed senior students within the school premises.
Security was, however, heightened around the school as personnel of the Department of State Services were stationed at the gate to prevent protesters from gaining entry. Visitors were screened before being allowed into the compound.
The demonstrators said they were at the school to demand the expulsion of all students identified in the viral video.
One of the protesters said, “We want to know the status of the other students involved and how the school has investigated the issue.
“What happened in this school is unacceptable in our society and we must all rise to condemn it.”
The protesters carried placards with various inscriptions and temporarily blocked the entrance gate of the school.
Some members of staff were seen trying to calm the protesters, explaining that the students involved had already been suspended.
A top management official of the school, who spoke on condition of anonymity, described the incident as unfortunate and assured the protesters that the management had taken steps to address the situation.
“What happened is unfortunate, but the management of the school has taken action and such an occurrence will not be allowed to happen again,” the official said.
Earlier, the Edo State Ministry of Education condemned the violent act against a student of the school.
In a statement issued by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Edith Ebomoyi, the behaviour was described as unacceptable and contrary to the values of discipline, respect and safety expected in schools across Edo State.
A disturbing video that surfaced online showed two students taking turns to brutalise another student who was lying helpless on the floor. The ministry said the incident violated the standards expected in the state’s schools and assured that appropriate steps would be taken.
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