A female student of Community Secondary School, Okpitumo, in Ikwo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, has been beaten and humiliated by the school’s Senior Prefect for refusing to kneel before him.
The incident has sparked condemnation from a human rights lawyer, Ikechukwu Obasi, who has called for an immediate investigation and appropriate action against those responsible.
Obasi, in a statement issued on Friday, described the incident as barbaric and dehumanising, insisting that no student has the authority to assault or punish another under the guise of seniority or prefectship.
He said the alleged conduct amounted to assault, bullying and an abuse of authority, stressing that the responsibility for disciplining students rests with teachers and school management, not fellow students.
According to him, the incident also raises concerns over the protection of children's rights under the Child Rights Act 2003, as domesticated in Ebonyi State, which prohibits physical, psychological and emotional abuse, as well as degrading treatment.
The lawyer warned that schools should provide safe environments for learning rather than allow senior students to intimidate or inflict punishment on their juniors.
He called on the Ebonyi State Ministry of Education and the State Secondary Education Board to conduct a thorough investigation and sanction anyone found culpable.
Obasi also urged the school management to educate prefects on the limits of their authority and strengthen child protection measures within the institution.
He further demanded counselling and other necessary support for the affected student.
The human rights advocate appealed to the Ebonyi State Government, National Human Rights Commission and civil society organisations to intensify efforts to address bullying and degrading punishment in schools.
He vowed to monitor the matter to ensure justice, maintaining that no child should be subjected to humiliation for refusing to obey an unlawful instruction.
