The Lead British International School (LBIS), Abuja has announced that it has formed a specialized team to look into the issue of bullying involving certain students.
Several videos showing students from the school attacking their peers have emerged and spread rapidly across social media platforms.
In one of the videos, a group of four female students were seen hitting another female student on her cheek while she sat helplessly. “Who is the boy? What is the boy’s name,” they asked repeatedly while hitting her.
In another video, the same girl was standing helplessly as another student hit her multiple times. “Who broke my heart,” she asked, accompanying the question with an assault on the face. In all the videos, the girl being assaulted was quiet and took in all the hitting without retaliating.
The video has generated thousands of comments by netizens calling on the school authorities to investigate the matter.
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Reacting to the incident via a statement issued on Tuesday, the Lead British International School said an investigation has begun over the matter.
LBIS’ Statement
In a statement signed by the Head of the School, Abraham Ogunkanmbi, LBIS noted that the school has initiated an investigation and appointed a dedicated team to conduct a ‘thorough inquiry’ into the matter.
Mr Ogunakanmbi said the team is currently gathering information including the review of the video footage and interviewing witnesses to understand the full scope of the incident and identify the immediate and remote causes.
He added that the school has also reached out to the families of both the perpetrators and the victims to offer them counseling and disciplinary measures as appropriate.
The statement reads in part: “Lead British International School, Abuja is deeply concerned about the recent incident of bullying that has come to light, and want to assure our school community and the public, that we are taking this matter very seriously. 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 to provide support, including access to counseling services to help them cope with the emotional and psychological impact of the incident.”
The school added that it would be implementing educational programs and workshops for students, staff, and parents to raise awareness about bullying and its consequences.
It also appealed to social media users to refrain from further sharing the video clips of the incident.
“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.
“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.”
How LIBS student was filmed bullying schoolmate
An X user identified as @mooyeeeeeee posted the girl’s s video while seeking justice on the victim’s behalf. According to her, the student has been subjected to bullying by her classmates.
Taking to her account on the micro-blogging platform on Monday night, she shared an SOS post accompanied by two videos and she went on to state that she needed the message to go viral to get justice for the victim.
“There’s a video I’m about to post. I need you guys to help me get justice for (sic). She was bullied in school by her classmates at Lead British School, Abuja. Pls make it go viral so she can get justice,” the post read.
Those who reacted condemned the incident, calling on the school authorities to investigate the matter.
Some users have advised the victim’s parents to report the incident to the police. Meanwhile, another user has alleged that the school has a bullying problem and that the punishment for such behavior is often inadequate.
Meanwhile, a little background check on the school showed it is rated as one of the most expensive in Nigeria with an annual school fee of ₦1.5 million according to Legit News.
It was established in September 2007 and currently has two annexes in Abuja and two branches in Ibadan, Oyo State, and Osogbo, Osun State.
Presently, the Abuja branch runs a British-Nigerian curriculum with its scope on Secondary, Cambridge, and IGSCE.
