The Lead British International School Abuja, embroiled in controversy over viral videos of bullying among its students, has been shut down for three days. This action was taken by the Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohaneye, in response to the disturbing videos.
The FCT Education Secretariat’s Public Relations Officer, Kabiru Musa, confirmed the school’s closure, stating it was at the minister’s directive. The shutdown followed the circulation of videos showing instances of bullying at the school, sparking outrage and calls for justice from the public.
In one of the videos, a female student is seen being slapped repeatedly by another female classmate. Another video emerged later, showing male students surrounding a boy, slapping him while he was on his knees.
In response to the incidents, Namtira Bwala, the student assaulted in one of the videos, has demanded a thorough investigation and severe sanctions for the 11 students involved. She issued an ultimatum to the school, threatening legal action if the bullies were not disciplined within 48 hours.
The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has also deployed officers to the school for investigations, following public outcry over the videos. The school management has initiated its own investigation, appointing a dedicated team to look into the matter.
Meanwhile, Maryam Hassan, one of the students seen bullying Namtira Bwala, has publicly apologized for her actions, expressing regret over the incident. The school has reached out to both the victims’ and perpetrators’ families, offering counseling and disciplinary measures as necessary.
