Lagos teacher arrested for assaulting pupil during lesson

Nigerians have voiced their outrage after a video emerged showing Stella Nwadigo, a teacher at Christ-Mitots International School in Isawo, Ikorodu, Lagos State, physically assaulting a three-year-old pupil, Abayomi Michael, for not writing as instructed. While the Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency, Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, confirmed the teacher’s arrest in a phone interview with our correspondent on Wednesday, Nigerians from all walks of life are calling for an investigation into the school. PUNCH Metro also learnt from the Lagos State Ministry of Education on Wednesday, in an exclusive interview with spokesperson Kayode Sutton, that the matter had been escalated to the relevant departments for further investigation, with the disturbing incident having already been “forwarded to the appropriate quarters.” A brief viral video seen by PUNCH Metro on Wednesday showed Nwadigo mistreating the young pupil during a writing lesson. In the footage, Nwadigo was heard instructing Abayomi on how to write the number six while repeatedly slapping him. The footage ignited widespread outrage, with Nigerians condemning the act and demanding the teacher’s prosecution. Among the vocal critics was a well-known social commentator, VeryDarkMan, who threatened to lead a protest at the school if the teacher was not held accountable. “To the owners of Christ-Mitots, you have just 24 hours to explain why the teacher treated that child in such a way. I’ve never been to Ikorodu, but I’ll fly to that school. “I’ll bring a crowd with me and urge Nigerians to pay attention to this case so that incidents like this stop. Look at how she slapped that child. Imagine if he had fallen, and God forbid, they would likely invent a story about him falling while playing,” he said, suggesting that the teacher may have previously assaulted others before being caught on camera. In an exclusive WhatsApp conversation with PUNCH Metro on Wednesday, the Chief Operating Officer at Advocates for Children and Vulnerable Persons Network, Ebenezer Omejalile, confirmed that Michael had been hospitalised as a result of the physical assault. He said, “The perpetrator has been arrested, while the pupil has been taken to the hospital. I’m here at the FSU with Supol Bola; the perpetrator is cooling off in the cell, and the case will be charged to court. This is the highest form of child cruelty by a supposed childminder by an animal in human skin. This sort of cruelty attracts so many consequences. “The perpetrator has not only physically assaulted the child but has dehumanised the child in totality, going by several slaps on the right ear that may damage the child’s eardrum, which can lead to deafness unwarranted.” Omejalile further emphasised the need for appropriate interventions, including a thorough medical examination, psychological treatment, and efforts to rebuild the child’s self-esteem. “The perpetrator should face the wrath of the law so that she will serve as a deterrent to others. Lastly, I expect the Lagos State Ministry of Education, through the Quality Assurance Department, to move in as swiftly as possible. And a one-on-one interaction should be carried out on the pupils to know how many pupils the monster has subjected to this cruelty,” he added. In response to the disturbing video and the outrage expressed by Nigerians across various social media platforms on Wednesday, Vivour-Adeniyi told our correspondent that an investigation into the incident had already begun. “The teacher has been arrested and is currently in police custody. The police will commence an investigation, and we hope she will be charged in court after the outcome of their findings,” she told PUNCH Metro. In a separate statement released on Wednesday via the agency’s verified X.com handle, which our correspondent obtained, the LSDSVA encouraged anyone with additional information to “contact us through our toll-free hotline or send a direct message on our social media platforms.” “Indeed, institutions of learning should be safe, warm, and protective environments for all children in their care. “The state government remains committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of every child by enforcing strict regulations, holding offenders accountable, and working with stakeholders to promote a zero-tolerance policy for abuse in any form,” the agency added.