In response to a bullying incident that gained significant attention on social media, the administration of Abuja’s Lead British International School has temporarily suspended operations.
A social media user, known as @mooyeeeeeee, shared two videos showing a student named Maryam Hassan being repeatedly slapped by another female student. The videos sparked a wave of online comments, with thousands of internet users urging the school to look into the incident.
On Tuesday, the school’s management announced a three-day closure to facilitate a thorough investigation into the incident. A senior staff member stated that the temporary closure was in the best interest of all parties involved.
The situation escalated during the meeting when a parent confronted and slapped the student accused of bullying. The student, who has faced severe criticism, was seen entering the school grounds accompanied by older males.
One woman, identified as a parent, confronted the accused student, questioning her about her actions. Despite the student’s attempts to avoid the confrontation, the parent persisted, eventually slapping the student. Other adults present quickly intervened to defuse the situation.
The Lead British International School had previously announced that it was investigating the incident. In a statement released on Monday, the school confirmed that its counselling unit is supporting the victim to cope with the emotional and psychological effects of the incident.
The statement read, “We are committed to providing a safe and supportive learning environment for all our students. Upon learning of the incident, we began reaching out to the victim and her family to offer support, including access to counselling services. We will also be working with the perpetrators and their families, offering counselling and disciplinary measures to address their unacceptable behaviour. A dedicated team has been appointed to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the incident, which includes reviewing video footage, interviewing witnesses, and identifying the immediate and underlying causes.”
