Abuja school probes viral video of student ‘bullied’ by colleagues

Lead British International School in Abuja has announced that it has launched an investigation into the widely publicized bullying incident involving its students.

Recently, videos circulated on social media depicting a student from the school, later identified as Maryam, being slapped by another student.

The videos show Maryam surrounded by other students in uniform, with one female student hitting her on the face.

The students in the video are heard making comments like “Who broke my heart?” and “I spoilt her relationship” on the school premises.

The incident has caused an uproar on social media, with many Nigerians calling for strict action against the perpetrator.

In a statement on Tuesday, the school’s administration stated that it has initiated an investigation and formed a specialized team to conduct a “thorough inquiry” into the incident.

Abraham Ogunkanmbi, the school’s Abuja head, mentioned that the school will collaborate with the perpetrators and their families to provide counseling and apply disciplinary measures.

“Lead British International School, Abuja, is deeply troubled by the recent incident of bullying that has come to light. We are treating this matter with utmost seriousness,” part of the statement reads.

“Upon learning about the incident, we promptly contacted the victim and her family to offer support, including access to counseling services to help them cope with the emotional and psychological effects of the incident.

“In addition, we will work with the offenders and their families to provide counseling and disciplinary actions to address their behavior, which is unacceptable in our community.

“We have also immediately launched an investigation, appointing a dedicated team to carry out a comprehensive inquiry into the incident.

“The team has been collecting information, including reviewing video footage and interviewing witnesses, to understand the full extent of the incident and identify its immediate and underlying causes.”

Located in Gwarinpa, Lead British International School was founded in September 2007. It accommodates day students from crèche to 18 years of age and has a boarding facility for students aged four and above.

Ogunkanmbi mentioned that Lead British will also review its anti-bullying policies and procedures to identify areas for improvement.

“LBIS will also implement educational programs and workshops for students, staff, and parents to raise awareness about bullying and its consequences,” the school head added.