BY CHRIS AGBEDO
The recent viral video showing a Junior Secondary student of Federal Government College, Enugu, being savagely bullied by senior students has rightfully ignited widespread outrage and disgust. The violent scene, capturing one of society’s most vulnerable at the mercy of a rampaging pack, lays bare an unsettling truth. Our schools, meant to be sanctuaries of learning and character development, are in some cases degenerating into arenas of unchecked brutality. It speaks to the decay that seems to pervade our educational institutions and a piercing indictment of the system that should protect, guide, and nurture young minds.
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The ease with which these seniors not only assaulted their junior but also filmed and shared it online speaks volumes about their confidence in the absence of meaningful supervision or repercussions. This brutal spectacle makes one wonder where was the school management when such an atrocity, with potential life-threatening consequences, was occurring? The responsibilities of school administrators extend far beyond academics; they are also charged with ensuring the physical and emotional safety of all students. Yet, as this incident underscores, these duties are either neglected or actively compromised in too many cases.
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A few pressing questions demand answers. Where were the teachers, the hostel supervisors, and the disciplinary committee members while this attack was going on? How did such an environment of impunity flourish in an institution that ought to enforce strict discipline and foster a respectful culture? If young students can orchestrate this level of violence on school grounds, what other transgressions might be hidden in plain sight, lurking within an environment lacking effective oversight?
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This episode is not an isolated one but part of a troubling pattern. Reports of bullying, abuse, and even tragic fatalities due to unchecked violence in schools have surfaced repeatedly across Nigeria in recent years. Only last month, a student of Obada Grammar School, Obada, Idi-Emi, Ogun State, Monday Arijo, reportedly died after receiving corporal punishment (162 frog jumps and 24 strokes of the cane) from a teacher named Azamdjo Elijah. The State Government may have taken the right steps by suspending the school principal, Mrs. Tamrat Onaolapo, shutting down the school, and getting the police to arrest the alleged culprit; yet, the poor lad has been lost forever! May the soul of Monday Arijo find eternal rest in the Lord’s bosom, Amen.
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Too often, investigations are perfunctory, disciplinary actions are minimal, and real accountability is evaded. This culture of neglect perpetuates an environment where students feel emboldened to abuse power, safe in the knowledge that the institution will likely turn a blind eye. Beyond simply condemning these acts, it is time to hold school management and the broader educational system accountable for their glaring lapses. Schools must establish and enforce zero-tolerance policies for bullying, coupled with comprehensive measures for prevention, intervention, and accountability. Hostel supervision should be stringent, with staff members held responsible for lapses. Technology like CCTV cameras should be utilized to monitor sensitive areas, and regular workshops should instill in students a respect for their peers and a clear understanding of the grave consequences of bullying.
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Federal Government College, Enugu, and all similar institutions must confront these issues head-on. The students involved in this attack should face appropriate disciplinary action, and the school administration must be held accountable for its role in allowing such an incident to occur. In addition, mental health and counseling services should be prioritized to support both victims of bullying and the perpetrators, who themselves may have unaddressed issues fueling their behaviour. While the actions of those involved are indefensible, it is essential to go beyond mere condemnation and investigate the underlying factors contributing to such troubling behaviour. Without excusing the perpetrators, a closer look at the roots of this aggression may offer insights into how we can curb such incidents and prevent future occurrences.
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Nigeria’s current economic situation has put a significant strain on many households, affecting students’ mental and emotional well-being. Children and adolescents are particularly sensitive to these pressures, which often manifest as frustration, hopelessness, or unchecked aggression. For some students, this may translate into negative behaviour patterns, as they struggle to process complex emotions or mimic aggressive behaviour they encounter in their environments. When students come to school burdened by economic and social stressors, disciplinary problems are often symptoms of a deeper emotional imbalance.
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Understanding this context is not to diminish the need for accountability but to recognize the need for a more holistic approach. Schools should implement preventive frameworks that provide students with psychological and emotional support, especially as they navigate the uncertainties of today’s economic landscape. Counseling services, peer mediation programmes, and consistent efforts to cultivate empathy among students can play a significant role in creating an atmosphere where bullying has no place. This incident also serves as a call to action for a systemic change in how discipline and emotional health are addressed within the educational sector. It is time we prioritized frameworks that address the root causes of aggressive behaviour and foster environments where students feel supported and understood.
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The disturbing trend of cult initiation among children, teenagers, and impressionable adolescents in schools has raised alarm bells across communities, and rightly so. What was once a phenomenon confined to tertiary institutions has insidiously made its way into secondary and even primary schools. This encroachment on our educational spaces threatens not only the safety and future of our youth but also the foundational values of our society. Cultism’s appeal to young, impressionable students is often rooted in a desire for belonging, protection, and influence, needs that are heightened during adolescence. As students seek out identity and camaraderie, cult groups lure them with promises of power and security, presenting violence and intimidation as norms. This normalization of violence among the young is deeply troubling, and it reflects broader systemic failures in addressing the socio-economic and emotional needs of our children.
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Government bodies, school administrators, parents, and faith-based organizations must join forces to curb this dangerous trend. First, the government should tighten oversight on schools, implementing stricter security measures and more comprehensive monitoring to ensure that cult activities do not infiltrate educational institutions. Policies should support regular, thorough background checks on staff and facilitate anonymous channels for reporting suspicious activities.
School authorities need to foster a culture of openness, where students feel safe reporting issues without fear of retaliation. It is essential for schools to prioritize character-building initiatives and instill values of respect, empathy, and peaceful conflict resolution as part of the curriculum. Additionally, partnering with mental health professionals to address the emotional well-being of students can prevent the kind of vulnerabilities that cults exploit.
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Faith-based organizations and parents also play a critical role. Faith leaders can use their platforms to speak out against cultism, educating the young on the dangers and moral implications of such affiliations. Parents, in turn, must be vigilant and actively involved in their children’s lives, looking out for behavioural changes that may suggest involvement in these dangerous circles. Tackling cultism requires a multifaceted approach, but a unified effort across these various sectors can bring meaningful change. Let us all remain committed to safeguarding the future of our young people, ensuring that schools are sanctuaries for learning and growth, not breeding grounds for violence and fear. In this shared responsibility, we find the collective strength to uphold the integrity of our educational system and the safety of our nation’s children.
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Above all, this incident is a wake-up call to society at large. Educational institutions are a microcosm of our larger culture, and if violence, cruelty, and impunity are becoming the norms in our schools, what does that portend for our future? We must demand that schools return to their purpose as nurturing, secure environments, places where students can grow in both knowledge and character. Only by confronting and uprooting this culture of violence and neglect can we hope to create schools, and a society that embody our highest values and aspirations. As the administration at Federal Government College Enugu, alongside other institutions, continues to tackle this incident, let it serve as a learning opportunity. Rather than treating these cases as isolated, reactive responses, schools can proactively create nurturing environments that address the social and emotional needs of students, setting a precedent for healthier, more supportive school cultures across the nation.
AGBEDO, a Professor of Sociolinguistics, University of Nigeria & Public Affairs Analyst, writes from Nsukka.
