Fresh concerns over the safety of schoolchildren in Nigeria have intensified following allegations of violence and bullying at Igbinedion Education Centre, drawing strong condemnation from ActionAid Nigeria, which warned of a deepening crisis in the country’s child protection system.
The organisation described the incident as a grave violation of children’s rights, stating that it exposes entrenched institutional weaknesses that allow abuse to persist within school environments.
Speaking in Abuja, ActionAid Nigeria’s Country Director, Andrew Mamedu, said the case reflects more than isolated misconduct, pointing instead to systemic failures in monitoring, reporting, and accountability across the education sector.
He stressed that every child is entitled to protection from violence, in line with provisions of the Child Rights Act, warning that when abuse goes undetected or unresolved, it signals a breakdown in the duty of care expected from schools and relevant authorities.
According to him, the incident underscores the inability of existing safeguarding systems to detect early warning signs or prevent escalation, raising concerns about the effectiveness of oversight mechanisms in schools.
ActionAid noted that the situation is indicative of a broader, largely underreported problem of bullying and school-related gender-based violence across Nigeria, with many cases going unreported due to fear, stigma, and the absence of trusted reporting channels.
The organisation also expressed concern over the circulation of videos linked to the incident, reportedly shared by students, describing it as evidence of weak internal reporting systems and a growing reliance on social media as a last resort for exposing abuse.
It criticised what it termed a reactive approach to child protection, where authorities often respond only after incidents gain public attention, rather than through proactive monitoring and enforcement.
Calling for urgent reforms, ActionAid urged the Federal Ministry of Education and other regulatory bodies, including the Universal Basic Education Commission and the National Human Rights Commission, to strengthen the implementation of safeguarding policies and establish effective reporting and tracking systems across schools.
The group also called on school authorities to introduce confidential reporting mechanisms, enforce strict disciplinary measures, and provide continuous training for staff on child protection, conflict management, and trauma-informed care.
Law enforcement agencies, particularly the Nigeria Police Force, were urged to ensure thorough investigation and prosecution of offenders, while parents were encouraged to support their children in speaking out against abuse.
ActionAid warned that without urgent and coordinated intervention, incidents of school-based violence could escalate further, posing serious risks to the safety and wellbeing of children across the country.
