The Edo State Police Command has summoned the management of Igbinedion Education Centre in Benin City to produce students involved in the bullying and assault of a fellow student for investigation and possible prosecution.
The move comes amid growing public outrage following a viral video that surfaced on X on Friday, showing two male students brutally attacking another student who was lying on the ground.
In the video, one of the students was seen dragging the victim by his school suit and stomping on his chest while the victim cried in pain. A third student, who was recording the incident, was heard pleading with the attackers to stop.
The disturbing footage sparked widespread condemnation on social media, prompting the school management to expel the two students allegedly responsible for the assault, while the student who recorded the incident was suspended.
Reports circulating online identified the alleged attackers as Dino Uyi and Choice Asoro, although authorities have not officially confirmed the identities, as the students are believed to be minors.
Speaking with Sunday PUNCH, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Edo State Command, Eno Ikoedem, confirmed that the police had already extended their investigation to the school and met with its management on Friday.
She explained that the Commissioner of Police had assigned the matter to an investigation team, which visited the school and was informed that the students involved had already been expelled.
Ikoedem noted that the police had formally invited the school management to assist in identifying and producing the students involved in the bullying incident.
According to her, expulsion alone is not sufficient, as the alleged assault constitutes a criminal offence that must be investigated in line with the law.
“We are inviting the school authority to hand over the students involved in the bullying act to the authorities. We don’t know these students, even the victim himself; we don’t know him. That is why we are calling on the victim to come forward so he can identify them,” she said.
She added that proper procedures must be followed before any arrest can be made, noting that the cooperation of the school is necessary for the investigation to proceed.
The police spokesperson further stressed that simply expelling the students does not address the criminal aspect of the case.
“It is not just about expelling them; they must be investigated and punished if found guilty. That is the only way the victim can get justice and it will also serve as a deterrent to other bullies,” she said.
Ikoedem disclosed that, as of the time of speaking, neither the victim nor his parents had filed a formal complaint with the police despite the widespread circulation of the video online.
She urged the victim and his family to come forward to assist with the investigation.
Meanwhile, the Edo State Ministry of Education has set up a five-member investigative committee to probe the incident.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Edith Ebomoyi, said the committee had been tasked with urgently determining the circumstances surrounding the incident and identifying all students found culpable.
