The police have invited the parents of a student of Igbinedion Education Centre, a private secondary school in Benin City, Edo State, who was assaulted by some of his classmates in a viral video, to file a formal complaint.
The Edo State Police Command said the step would enable authorities to properly identify the victim and commence a formal investigation into the incident.
The development followed widespread public outrage after a video of the assault surfaced online on March 13, 2026, showing two male students attacking a classmate while another student filmed the incident.
In the footage, which circulated on X, one of the students was seen dragging the victim by his school suit and repeatedly stomping on his chest as the boy cried in pain. The student recording the video was heard pleading with the attackers to stop.
Meanwhile, the management of the school has expelled the two students allegedly involved in the assault.
In a statement issued on Friday, the school described the behaviour as disturbing and inconsistent with the institution’s values, reiterating its strict zero-tolerance policy against bullying, intimidation, harassment, cultism and any form of violence.
“Following an immediate investigation, the students responsible have been expelled from the school with immediate effect. Such conduct will never be tolerated within our school community,” the statement read.
The school also confirmed that the matter had been reported to the relevant authorities and that it was cooperating fully with investigations, noting that the students involved are minors.
“We are providing support to those affected and are working closely with their families to ensure the matter is addressed with the seriousness it deserves,” the statement added.
A staff member of the school, who spoke to Saturday PUNCH on condition of anonymity, disclosed that the parents of the students involved had approached the family of the assaulted student in a bid to reach an amicable settlement but declined to reveal their identities due to the sensitivity of the case.
The Police Public Relations Officer of Edo State, Eno Ikoedem, urged the victim and his parents to come forward and lodge a formal complaint to enable the police begin a full investigation.
“Bullying is a criminal offence. No one is allowed to beat up and dehumanise someone like that. That is somebody’s child irrespective of whatever offence he may have committed,” Ikoedem said.
Human rights activist Kola Edokpayi condemned the attack, describing it as “man’s inhumanity to man,” and called on the school to impose strict sanctions to deter similar incidents in the future.
