Benin City, Edo State — Public outrage continues to grow after disturbing viral videos showed a student being brutally assaulted by fellow students at Igbinedion Secondary School, prompting a senior lawyer to demand immediate police action.
Abdullahi Tony Dania, Principal Partner of Dania & Associates, has issued a 72-hour ultimatum to the Nigeria Police Force to arrest and prosecute the alleged perpetrators, identified as Choice Osarumen Asoro and Dino Uyi.
The assault, which reportedly occurred within the boarding facilities of the school in Benin City, was captured in videos that have circulated widely online, showing what Dania described as a “brutal and inhumane attack” on an unnamed student.
In a strongly worded statement, the lawyer criticized what he described as the police’s insistence on receiving a formal complaint before initiating an investigation.
“It is trite law that the police do not require a complaint to investigate violent crimes such as assault,” Dania said, arguing that the state — not the victim — is the complainant in criminal proceedings under Nigerian law.
According to him, the absence of a complaint from the victim or the victim’s guardians does not prevent the police from arresting suspects and prosecuting criminal offences.
Beyond the assault itself, Dania has also called for a wider investigation into alleged systemic bullying and possible cult activity within the school.
He cited testimonies from a former female student who alleged that the incident reflects a broader pattern of abuse in the institution. Another video circulating online allegedly shows eight students violently attacking four others in a separate incident within the same school.
The lawyer has urged the Force Criminal Investigation Department (Force CID) Headquarters in Abuja to immediately take over the case and conduct a comprehensive probe into the school.
He asked investigators to determine:
• Whether previous cases of bullying and assault have occurred at the school
• Whether any student groups linked to cult activities exist on or off campus
• Whether school authorities may have concealed or failed to properly address earlier incidents
Dania also recommended urgent reforms by the school’s management, including the establishment of an independent investigative panel, installation of CCTV cameras across the campus, and the enforcement of a strict zero-tolerance policy against bullying.
He further stated that he is prepared to personally prosecute the case pro bono in the public interest.
The incident has reignited nationwide concerns about student safety, bullying, and cultism in Nigerian boarding schools, with many Nigerians calling for swift justice and stronger oversight of private educational institutions.
Dania warned that if the police fail to act within the 72-hour deadline ending March 19, 2026, he will initiate legal proceedings to compel the Nigeria Police Force to carry out its statutory responsibilities.
