A viral video showing a secondary school student being violently attacked by classmates has triggered a police response in Edo State. Authorities are now seeking a formal complaint from the victim’s family as public outrage mounts over the disturbing incident inside a private school in Benin City.
The school involved, Igbinedion Education Centre, has expelled the students allegedly responsible for the assault.
Police in Edo State have opened inquiries into an assault involving students at the Igbinedion Education Centre after a video circulating online showed a student being attacked by classmates.
According to officials from the Nigeria Police Force in Edo, the parents of the victim have been invited to formally report the case so investigators can identify those involved and determine whether criminal charges are warranted.
The footage, widely shared on social media platform X, shows one student dragging another by his uniform and repeatedly stepping on his chest while the victim cries out in pain. A third student filming the incident can be heard pleading with the attackers to stop.
In response to the backlash, the management of the school confirmed that the students allegedly responsible for the assault have been expelled.
The institution described the behaviour as a serious violation of its rules and reiterated its policy against bullying, harassment, cultism and violence.
School officials said the matter had been reported to authorities and that they are cooperating with investigators.
The students involved are minors, which may affect how authorities handle the case under Nigerian law.
The Edo State Police Command said the investigation cannot fully proceed without a formal complaint from the victim’s family.
Police spokesperson Eno Ikoedem stressed that assault, even among students, can constitute a criminal offence.
According to her, no individual has the right to physically attack another person regardless of the circumstances.
Incidents of school bullying rarely attract national attention unless video evidence emerges. In this case, the viral footage appears to have accelerated public reaction and forced swift administrative action.
However, a closer look shows that the issue extends beyond a single incident.
Across Nigeria, concerns about violence and intimidation in secondary schools have grown in recent years, particularly in elite private institutions where disciplinary issues are sometimes handled quietly to protect reputations.
Human rights advocate Kola Edokpayi condemned the attack, describing it as an example of “man’s inhumanity to man,” and urged schools to enforce stronger disciplinary systems to prevent similar cases.
Beyond the immediate investigation, the incident has reignited conversations about student safety, supervision and digital accountability.
Viral recordings of bullying incidents have increasingly become catalysts for institutional action, raising questions about how many similar cases go unreported when cameras are not present.
Education experts argue that schools must combine strict disciplinary enforcement with stronger counselling systems to address behavioural issues before they escalate into violence.
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