The Enugu State Government says it condemns in its entirety the bullying of a male student of the Federal Government College, Enugu, by fellow students the video of which has gone viral on social media.
The Commissioner for Education, Professor Ndubueze Mbah, in reaction to the ugly incident, said in a statement that the government was going to investigate the incident with the view to taking legal action against the culprits.
He said that the state government had zero tolerance for such dastardly behaviour in any form and in any school in the state whether private or public schools.
He said: “The Enugu State Government has zero tolerance for bullying and abuse in our schools.
“The safety and welfare of our students are paramount. The Enugu State Government is resolved to prosecute culprits who engage in behaviour of physical assault against fellow students.
“Such immoral behaviour has no place in our academic environment.”
The commissioner said that the Enugu State Government was in communication with the Federal Ministry of Education to ensure that proper punishments were applied to the culprits, including negligent school managers.
He added that the Enugu State ministry of education was also reviewing the conditions of child welfare at the Federal Government college, Enugu.
Professor Mbah said that though the incident happened in a federal college, the state government was committed to ensuring that no such incident happens in any school in the state.
Meanwhile, the Parents Teachers Association (PTA) Chairman of Federal Government College, Enugu, Dr. Chinedu Mba, in his reaction to the incident claimed that, at the time of the incident, the PTA security guards had not resumed their duties.
He said: “Contrary to the rumours, it is untrue that the incident involved cult activities.
“Rather, a student was found bringing Indian hemp into the school, which led to some disorderly conduct.”
The PTA chairman, however, acknowledged that students have no right to physically discipline a fellow student, adding that the students involved in the incident have been arrested and disciplined, receiving indefinite suspension in line with the Federal Ministry of Education’s guidelines.
“It is also worth noting that the student involved failed to inform his parents about his behaviour.
“Parents are encouraged to counsel their children against engaging in nefarious activities. The online rumours are being promoted by individuals who do not have the best interests of the school at heart,” he said.
