By Chioma Obinagwam
Netizens are reacting to the bullying incident that happened at Lead British International school, Abuja, which was shut down for three days by Nigeria’s Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye.
Confiance News gathered from the comment section of the official X handle of Nigeria Stores on Tuesday.
The attention of the minister was drawn to a viral video showing Maryam Hassan (the bully) repeatedly slapping and bullying Namtira Bwala (the bullied).
Reacting to the incident, an X user known as Tessi said, “The girl in question bullying and slapping a fellow student in Lead British Abuja has displayed total parental failure it shows she lacks proper upbringing because even seeing her now she isn’t being remorseful and regretful of her actions.
The girl that was being victimised should be celebrated, encouraged and given the utmost support to gain back her confidence amongst her peers.
Also the bully girl and her accomplice need proper continual reorientation.”
Tessi’s view about the incident sparked reactions too. Some X users do not agree with him that the bullying girl’s attitude was as a result of her parents failure in giving her a moral upbringing.
SonofMan argued in the pidgin language,”Pikin go misbehave una go blame parents..nawa oh.”
Interpretation: “A child will misbehave, you will blame the parents.. incredible!”
Corroborating, Lu_cent said,’Pikin way wan spoil go spoil don’t blame the parents
We all had privileges to do somethings that were “morally good” but most of use decided not too
We need to stop this nonsense of blaming parents when a child does wrong. Especially one that is already of the age to have kids of their own.”
Ifeoluwa, another X user, is of the opinion that the victim of bullying should defend themselves.
“As much as I agree, judging from the kind of person I am, sometimes I believe it’s best to fight back,” he noted.
Nigerianoise.com said,”
How is this a matter of the Ministry of Women’s affairs? Is this not a matter for the Education ministry, plus the School plus the PTA?
The minister should go attend to the ladies sexually harassed in UNN and Port Harcourt. That’s more appropriately her arena.”
Kunle, replying Nigerianoise.com said,”Have you seen any release from the Ministry of Education? They aren’t proactive so if any other ministry takes action on behalf of a girl child, I fully endorse it and so you should.”
On his part, Kenny frowned at the government’s decision to shutdown the school for three. He believes it will affect the education of other students who did not partake in the crime.
Kunle said,”You don’t shut down a school because a child bullied another.
Teenagers will always strive to show superiority. The concerned child should be disciplined – suspended , if he/she is a repeat offender, such should be expelled.
Shutting down the school for 3 days rubs the entire student groups of their learning pace.”
“Abuse and bullying happen in all schools. This incident and the previous that have happened in the recent times makes it a subject that should get regulation.
It’s time law is passed to forbid assault in schools . The management of school held responsible to legal suit and award of damage to abused students family.
This will be a valid way to have a system in place that compels schools to have monitoring systems in place .
Social morals and networkinf should be inculcated into our school curriculum across nursery through secondary school.
A lot of children grow up in abusive environments, and all they know is assault and violent response.
Quite often they never get opportunity to learn living peaceably and respectfully with others.
This behaviour can be retrained,” he continued.
