The management of Lead British International School, Abuja, has acknowledged the viral video of one of its students being assaulted by another student while others looked on.
The institution’s management said they had commenced an investigation into the incident.
It would be recalled that clips of a student later identified as Namtira Bwala being bullied by a classmate identified as Maryam Hassan went viral on Tuesday.
Namtira is rumoured to be the daughter of Daniel Bwala, the former spokesperson of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP)’s presidential candidate, Alhaji Abubakar Atiku, but this could not be confirmed at the time of filing this report.
In one of the videos, the Namtira was seen being slapped repeatedly by Maryam while asking “Who broke my heart?”
In the second video, Namtira was seated near a smiling male student while being repeatedly slapped and interrogated by her classmate, who was off the camera frame.
The clips sparked wild reactions with many people calling for the apprehension of the bully.
Reacting in a press statement issued on Tuesday, the management of the school said it was “deeply concerned” about the incident and noted that due investigation had begun into the matter.
The statement signed by the Head of School, LBIS, Abuja, Abraham Ogunkanmbi continued: “We are committed to providing a safe and supportive learning environment for all our students. Hence, upon learning of the incident, we initiated the process of reaching out to the victim and family with a view to providing support, including access to counselling services to help them cope with the emotional and psychological impact of the incident.
“Additionally, we will be working with the perpetrators and their families, offering counselling and disciplinary measures to address their behaviour which has no place in society.
“We have also immediately initiated an investigation, appointing a dedicated team to conduct a thorough inquiry into the matter. The team has been gathering information, including reviewing video footage and interviewing witnesses, to understand the full scope of the incident and identify the immediate and remote causes.
“In line with our commitment to preventing bullying and ensuring a safe school environment, we will be reviewing and updating our extant Anti-Bullying Policies and procedures to determine areas requiring improvement, with a focus on prevention and early intervention. LBIS will also be implementing educational programmes and workshops for students, staff, and parents to raise awareness about bullying and its consequences.
“Lead British International School Abuja, established since 2007, is a renowned education brand with a proud history of producing thousands of alumni who continue to make the institution proud through their accomplishments around the world. These achievements testify to the sound academic and moral grounding they received during their formative years in the school.
“We want to reassure our school community and the public that we are taking all necessary steps to address this isolated incident and prevent a recurrence. We are committed to fostering a culture of kindness, respect, and empathy at Lead British International School Abuja, where every student feels safe, valued, and respected.
“We also urge anyone with information about this incident or any other incidents of bullying to come forward and report them to the school administration by contacting the undersigned via the phone number and email provided. We are here to listen, support, and take action to ensure the well-being of all our students.
“LBIS appeals to members of the public, especially citizen journalists on social media, to refrain from further circulating the horrendous video of the incident, to protect the minors involved and their families.”
