Nation
Lagos teacher nabbed for assaulting pupil during lesson
Nigerians have expressed concerns and outrage over a video showing Stella Nwadigo, a teacher at Christ-Mitots International School in Isawo, Ikorodu, Lagos State, physically assaulting a three-year-old pupil, Abayomi Michael, for not writing as instructed.
While the Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency, Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, confirmed the teacher’s arrest on Wednesday, Nigerians from all walks of life are calling for an investigation into the school.
Meanwhile the Lagos State Ministry of Education on Wednesday, through its spokesperson Kayode Sutton, said the matter had been referred to the relevant departments for further investigation, with the disturbing incident having already been “forwarded to the appropriate quarters.”
A brief viral video on Wednesday showed Nwadigo assaulting the young pupil during a writing lesson. In the footage, Nwadigo was heard instructing Abayomi on how to write the number six while repeatedly slapping him.
The footage fuelled broad condemnation , with Nigerians demanding the teacher’s prosecution. Among the vocal critics was a well-known social commentator, VeryDarkMan, who threatened to lead a protest at the school if the teacher was not held accountable.
“To the owners of Christ-Mitots, you have just 24 hours to explain why the teacher treated that child in such a way. I’ve never been to Ikorodu, but I’ll fly to that school.
“I’ll bring a crowd with me and urge Nigerians to pay attention to this case so that incidents like this stop. Look at how she slapped that child. Imagine if he had fallen, and God forbid, they would likely invent a story about him falling while playing,” he said, suggesting that the teacher may have previously assaulted others before being caught on camera.
The Chief Operating Officer at Advocates for Children and Vulnerable Persons Network, Ebenezer Omejalile, confirmed that Michael had been hospitalised as a result of the physical assault.
He said, “The perpetrator has been arrested, while the pupil has been taken to the hospital. I’m here at the FSU with Supol Bola; the perpetrator is cooling off in the cell, and the case will be charged to court. This is the highest form of child cruelty by a supposed childminder by an animal in human skin. This sort of cruelty attracts so many consequences.
“The perpetrator has not only physically assaulted the child but has dehumanised the child in totality, going by several slaps on the right ear that may damage the child’s eardrum, which can lead to deafness unwarranted.”
“The perpetrator should face the wrath of the law so that she will serve as a deterrent to others. Lastly, I expect the Lagos State Ministry of Education, through the Quality Assurance Department, to move in as swiftly as possible. And a one-on-one interaction should be carried out on the pupils to know how many pupils the monster has subjected to this cruelty,” he added.