Lead British International School Abuja, embroiled in a controversy following viral videos depicting incidents of bullying among its students, has been ordered to shut down for three days.
Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohaneye, issued the closure directive in response to the disturbing reports of bullying within the school premises.
Kabiru Musa, the Public Relations Officer of the FCT Education Secretariat, confirmed the shutdown, stating, “Yes, it was shut down by the honorable Minister of Women Affairs for 3 days,” in response to inquiries from media representatives.
The decision to close the school came after the emergence of videos on social media showing instances of physical assault and harassment involving students of Lead British International School. The videos sparked outrage among the public, prompting calls for swift action from school authorities.
In one of the videos, a female student was seen being repeatedly slapped by another female classmate, while in another video, a male student was surrounded and subjected to physical intimidation by his peers.
Amidst mounting pressure, Namtira Bwala, the student who was assaulted in one of the incidents, has taken legal action by writing a letter to the school management through her legal representatives at the Deji Adeyanju and Partners Law Firm. In the letter, Bwala demands a thorough investigation into the bullying incidents and calls for heavy sanctions against the 11 students identified as perpetrators.
Bwala has given the school a 48-hour ultimatum to respond to her demands, failing which she intends to pursue legal recourse.
The closure of Lead British International School underscores the gravity of the situation and the urgent need for decisive measures to address bullying within educational institutions. It remains to be seen how the school management will respond to the demands for accountability and justice raised by the affected students and the public at large.