National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Finally Speaks On Lead British School Bullying Saga

The NHRC has condemned a disturbing video showing the brutal bullying of Namtira Bwala, a student at Lead British International School in Gwarinpa, Abuja.

In a statement released to the press on Thursday, the Commission stated that the victim in the viral video endured multiple slaps from fellow students for refusing to answer inappropriate questions about school relationships.

“The alarming incident which has attracted widespread condemnation across the country is a matter of concern that borders on cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment, respect for the dignity of the human person as well as learning in a safe and protected environment,” the Commission stated.

In response, NHRC’s Executive Secretary, Dr. Tony Ojukwu, SAN, expressed shock at the physical abuse inflicted by one student upon another. He emphasized that such incidents could have been prevented with proper measures in place to ensure a safe and conducive learning environment.

Ojukwu, SAN, cited Section 34 (1) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, which he said provided that “every Nigerian individual is entitled to respect for the dignity of his person and accordingly (a) No person shall be subjected to torture, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.”

He urged school owners to implement measures to prevent similar incidents, including installing CCTV cameras in strategic locations and establishing a whistleblower system for reporting bullying and misconduct in schools.

Besides, the NHRC boss demanded a thorough investigation to ascertain the root cause of “this dastardly act in the name of seniority,” stressing that the protection of students across board by school management should be made paramount.

While requesting for public hearing on bullying in schools, the NHRC noted that “bullying has become common in schools and if not checked will discourage some students from attending schools.”

“This may lead to mental health issues, low self-esteem, even suicide as the case may be,” it stated in the statement that was signed by the Director, Corporate Affairs and External Linkages, Obinna Nwakonye.

In a related incident, the NHRC condemned the degrading treatment of a cross-dresser who was ordered to strip naked in front of security operatives.

It advised security and law enforcement agencies in the country to desist from subjecting citizens or other foreigners living in the country to any form of torture, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment in the course of their investigations.

In the video that went viral, the victim, a middle aged man, admitted that he disguises as a woman while dancing to attract attention for monetary rewards.

The NHRC maintained that while law enforcement personnel are mandated to carry out their duties, including investigations, they must conform to the extant laws and regulations which do not confer on them any form of authority to administer unethical treatment on any suspect.

“What played out in the video is a demonstration of the fact that some of our security personnel are either ignorant of the laws governing their operations or are deliberately indulging in abuse of Office.

“Unfortunately none of these can suffice as an excuse or justification for any law enforcement agents to use torture, inhuman and degrading treatment and or punishment as a tool for investigation,” the Commission stated.

It called on the various authorities in the security sector to set up internal monitoring mechanisms to fish out the bad eggs and forestall any excesses from the law enforcement agents under their jurisdictions.

“Accordingly, the perpetrators amongst the law enforcement in viral video should be prosecuted by the Nigerian Police as an institution for the promotion and protection of human rights of the people of Nigeria.

“Against the foregoing, the victim in the viral video deserves an apology and any other measures necessary to ensure that he recovers from the psychological trauma he was made to go through in the course of the unprofessional investigation he was subjected to in the hands of those who are supposed to protect his rights and other

members of the public,” the Commission added.

Source: Vanguard News.

Send Us A Press Statement Advertise With Us Contact Us

 And For More Nigerian News Visit GWG.NG