BENIN CITY: The Edo State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of all individuals linked to a viral bullying incident involving secondary school students, stating that the suspects will be charged before the Family Court in line with juvenile justice laws.
In an update issued by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP Eno Ikoedem, police said investigations revealed that the incident stemmed from a disagreement on March 5, 2026, involving two 14-year-old female students and a fellow student.
According to preliminary findings, the altercation escalated after the victim allegedly made offensive remarks about the girls’ late father, provoking a violent reaction.
The girls reportedly attacked the student after school hours and subsequently assaulted a parent who attempted to intervene, an act that led to their expulsion by the school authorities.
The situation further degenerated the following day when the son of the assaulted parent carried out a retaliatory attack on another student, identified as the brother of the girls in an incident that was recorded and circulated widely on social media.
Police authorities said all those directly connected to the incidents have been identified and apprehended, with arrangements underway to prosecute them in accordance with child protection laws.
In response, the Commissioner of Police has ordered the immediate intensification of the Operation Safe Schools Initiative across the state, aimed at strengthening supervision and preventing similar occurrences.
The Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices (POCACOV) has also been deployed to schools to engage students and administrators through sensitisation and reorientation programmes.
The Command urged parents, guardians, and school authorities to take greater responsibility in supervising children, while advising students to shun violence and seek proper channels for resolving disputes.
While appealing for calm, the police assured residents that necessary steps are being taken not only to ensure justice but also to prevent a recurrence, reaffirming its commitment to safeguarding lives and maintaining law and order across Edo State.
