The Edo State Police Command on Saturday disclosed that all the suspects involved in the bullying at the Igbinedion Education Centre had been arrested.
Videos from the school that went viral showed several pupils being kicked, flogged, and beaten by alleged senior students.
According to a statement from the state command’s spokesperson, Eno Ikoedem, the arrests were made following an investigation, and the suspects will face charges in family court in compliance with the regulations governing juvenile justice and child safety.
The statement read, “The Edo State Police Command wishes to update the general public on the viral bullying incident, which has generated widespread concern and public reactions across the state.
“Following a thorough and painstaking investigation, the command confirms that all individuals directly connected to the incident have been identified, while those implicated have been apprehended and are being charged to the family court in accordance with extant laws guiding juvenile justice and child protection.
“Preliminary investigations revealed that the incident originated on Thursday, 5/03/2026, when two female students, names withheld, both aged 14, had a disagreement with a fellow student. During the altercation, the said student reportedly uttered offensive words directed at their late father, specifically saying, ‘Ogun kill your papa.’
“Angered by the remark, the girls allegedly attacked the student after school hours. In the course of the assault, a parent, who had come to pick up her son, intervened, but the two girls, still enraged, turned on the woman, physically confronting her and dragging her clothes. The school management subsequently intervened and expelled the girls for engaging in violent conduct.
“On the following day (06/03/2026), a retaliatory incident occurred. The male student, whose mother was earlier assaulted, attacked the victim in the viral video in what has been identified as a revenge assault, which was recorded and posted by one of the students. The victim is the brother of the girls that assaulted his mother.
“The Commissioner of Police has ordered the immediate deployment and intensification of the Operation Safe Schools Initiative across secondary schools in Edo State, with a mandate to identify the gap in supervision and leverage lessons learned in this matter to prevent a recurrence.
“Additionally, the Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices has been mobilized to engage students and school administrators through advocacy, sensitization, and reorientation programs.
“The command, therefore, urges parents, guardians, and school authorities to take greater responsibility in the moral upbringing and supervision of their children and wards, while advising students to shun violence and report grievances through appropriate channels.
“While appealing to members of the public to remain calm, the command assures that proactive steps were being taken to ensure that justice is not only served but also that measures are emplaced to prevent a reoccurrence.”
The command noted that it remained committed to maintaining law and order and safeguarding all residents, especially children.
The Edo State Ministry of Education, through the permanent secretary, Edith Ebomoyi, condemned the violent act.
In a statement, Ebomoyi said that such behavior was totally inappropriate and went against the principles of safety, discipline, and respect that all Edo State educational institutions were supposed to promote.
Along with expelling the offending kids, the school promised that similar incidents would not occur in the future.
