Lead British International School, Abuja, has been declared shut for three days as a result of the mass condemnation that greeted a horrific case of the bullying of a female student named Namtira.
In one of the videos, Namtira is seen being slapped repeatedly by another female student who repeatedly asks, “Who broke my heart?”
In another video, Namtira sits next to a male student who is heard saying “I spoilt her relationship;” while the female student bully asks, “What is the name of the boy.”
See the video of the bullying:
Sequel to the angry reactions that greeted the bullying on the social media, the school released a statement. See the Press statement by the school:
PRESS STATEMENT
Subject: Addressing the Incident of Bullying at Lead British International School Abuja
Abuja-FCT | Tuesday, April 23, 2024 – 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 which, we initiated the process of reaching out to the victim and family with a view to providing support, including access to counseling services to help them cope with the emotional and psychological impact of the incident.
Additionally, we will be working with the perpetrators and their families, offering counselling and disciplinary measures to address their behaviour which has no place in society.
We have also immediately initiated an investigation, appointing a dedicated team to conduct a thorough inquiry into the matter. The team has been gathering information, including reviewing video footage and interviewing witnesses, to understand the full scope of the incident and identify the immediate and remote causes.
In line with our commitment to preventing bullying and ensuring a safe school environment, we will be reviewing and updating our extant Anti-Bullying Policies and procedures to determine areas requiring improvement, with a focus on prevention and early intervention.
LBIS will also be implementing educational programmes and workshops for students, staff, and parents to raise awareness about bullying and its consequences.
Lead British International School Abuja, established since 2007, is a renowned education brand with a proud history of producing thousands of alumni who continue to make the institution proud through their accomplishments around the world. These achievements testify to the sound academic and moral grounding they received during their formative years in the school.
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.
We also urge anyone with information about this incident or any other incidents of bullying to come forward and report them to the school administration by contacting the undersigned via the phone number and email provided. We are here to listen, support, and take action to ensure the well-being of all our students.
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.
We thank our school community and all stakeholders for their support and understanding as we work together to address this incident and uphold our commitment to providing a safe and nurturing learning environment for all.
For any useful information please contact us via [email protected] or via 0809 996 0001
Abraham Ogunkanmbi
Head of School, Abuja
Lead British International School Abuja
Abraham Ogunkanmbi.
The media outrage soon attracted the attention of the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, who visited the school in the aftermath of the social media upheaval. See the video of her interaction at the school:
