Authorities of Igbinedion Education Centre in Benin City have expelled students involved in the brutal assault of a junior colleague captured in a viral video that has sparked outrage across social media.
The incident, which occurred at the secondary school, came to public attention after a disturbing clip circulated online showing two senior students repeatedly beating a younger student while other students watched.
In the footage, one of the attackers pushes the victim to the ground and lashes him with a belt before kicking him in the head and stomach as the boy struggles to stand. The victim is later handed over to another senior student who continues the assault.
The video, first shared on X (formerly Twitter) by a user identified as @Benking443, quickly spread online, prompting widespread condemnation and calls for disciplinary action against those involved.
In an official statement dated March 13, the management of Igbinedion Education Centre said it had launched an immediate investigation after becoming aware of the incident.
“The behaviour shown in the video is deeply disturbing and stands in direct violation of the values and standards we uphold,” the school said, stressing that it maintains a strict zero-tolerance policy against bullying, intimidation, harassment and violence.
The school confirmed that the students responsible for the attack had been expelled with immediate effect.
“Following an immediate investigation, the students responsible have been expelled from the school with immediate effect. Such conduct will never be tolerated within our school community,” the management stated.
The institution also disclosed that the matter had been reported to relevant authorities and that it was cooperating with investigations, noting that the students involved are minors.
While thanking parents and guardians for their cooperation, the school said its priority remained the safety, dignity and wellbeing of every student and that it was working with the families concerned.
However, a rights advocate and founder of Project Alert on Violence Against Women, Josephine Effa-Chukwuma, said expelling the students alone was not enough.
Reacting in a statement on Saturday, Effa-Chukwuma said the incident clearly constituted a criminal act and should be treated as such.
“A crime happened in the school,” she said, insisting that the police should investigate the matter and that the juvenile offenders should face appropriate legal consequences.
She also questioned the school’s response regarding the welfare of the assaulted student, saying the statement did not clearly indicate what immediate medical and psychological support was being provided to the victim and his family.
The activist urged the school to ensure the injured student receives proper hospital care and that the institution covers the medical expenses while assigning staff to support the family during treatment.
She further recommended that other students who witnessed the assault should be interviewed and provided with trauma counselling.