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Family Of Student In Viral Edo Bullying Video Issues Public Apology
The Asoro family has issued a formal public apology following a viral video of a bullying incident at Igbinedion Education Centre in Benin City, Edo State.
The video, which sparked widespread outrage, showed several students—specifically identified as seniors—beating and kicking a fellow student on the ground while another recorded the assault.
The school management had earlier announced that all students involved had been expelled.
In a statement issued on Sunday and signed by Tim Asoro on behalf of the Asoro family, the parents expressed shock and deep embarrassment over the incident.
“Watching the video has been one of the most distressing and heartbreaking experiences of our lives as parents. We have watched it with shock, sadness, and deep embarrassment,” the statement read.
“As a family, we are ashamed that our child was involved in conduct that caused pain and distress to another student,” it added.
The family apologised directly to the victim and his relatives, noting that no child deserves to be treated in such a manner.
“To the student who was affected, we want to say from the depths of our hearts that we are truly sorry. No child deserves to be treated that way. As parents, we cannot begin to imagine how frightening and hurtful the moment must have been for him. Our hearts go out to him and his family,” the statement said.
While the family expressed relief that medical reports confirmed the victim was physically unharmed, they acknowledged the seriousness of the incident and the emotional distress it may have caused.
Describing the episode as a painful moment of reflection, they said they had held serious discussions with their son, who expressed deep remorse for his actions.
“He understands that what happened has consequences not only for himself but also for another child, the school, and our entire family. We do not excuse what happened. It was wrong, and we are determined that our son must learn from this moment,” the statement read.
The parents added that steps were being taken to ensure their son receives guidance and counselling to help him develop into a more responsible and compassionate person.
They also reiterated their respect for the disciplinary measures taken by the school and extended another apology to the victim, his family, and the wider school community.
“Our family hopes that healing will come to everyone affected by this painful incident and that our son will learn the lessons needed to become a better person,” the statement concluded.
Earlier, the Edo State Police Command said it had summoned the school management to hand over the students involved for investigation and possible prosecution. The Edo State Government also promised sanctions for anyone found culpable.
The state Ministry of Education has set up a five-member investigative committee to determine the circumstances of the incident and identify all students involved. The police confirmed that investigations were ongoing and that those found culpable could face prosecution.
This is not the first Nigerian secondary school bullying case to attract national attention. In 2024, a video surfaced showing the brutal bullying of a female student at Lead British International School in Gwarinpa, Abuja. The victim, Namtira Bwala, was repeatedly slapped by fellow students, sparking widespread outrage across the country.
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has officially announced that the results for the first day of the 2026 UTME, held on Thursday, April 16, will be released today, Friday, before midnight.
According to a statement from JAMB’s Public Communication Adviser, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, candidates who sat for the examination on the opening day can expect to access their scores once processing is finalized later tonight
He stated that an official public announcement would follow once the release process is complete.
A total of 2,243,816 candidates registered for this year’s exercise, representing a 10.5 per cent increase from the 2.03 million recorded in 2025.
Benjamin said that candidates would be able to access their results as soon as the process is finalised.
“This is to inform all candidates who sat for the 2026 UTME on Thursday, 16th April 2026, that their results will be released today before midnight,” the statement read.
RELEASE OF RESULTS FOR THE FIRST DAY OF THE 2026 UTME
This is to inform all candidates who sat for the 2026 UTME on Thursday, 16th April 2026, that their results will be released today before midnight.
An official announcement will be made to the public and posted on this page as…
— Fabian Benjamin (@FabianB58246501) April 17, 2026
A breakdown of registration figures showed that Lagos State recorded the highest number of candidates with 381,814, followed by Ogun (137,156), Oyo (122,662), Kaduna (103,498), and the Federal Capital Territory (102,961).
Other states include Rivers (105,584) and Kano (83,167), while Borno (13,483) and Zamfara (14,861) recorded the lowest figures.
Outside Nigeria, participation remains minimal, with Côte d’Ivoire leading with 32 candidates, followed by Equatorial Guinea (16), Burkina Faso (14), and the United Kingdom (12).
Countries such as Gambia, Ghana, and South Africa recorded fewer than ten candidates each.
JAMB had increased the number of CBT centres to about 1,000 nationwide to improve accessibility and logistics.
The board also delisted 23 centres across several states, including the Federal Capital Territory, Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Delta, Edo, and Plateau, due to technical deficiencies observed during the mock UTME.
The Board added that further details regarding access to the results would be communicated through its official channels.
Candidates who participated in the first day of the nationwide examination are advised to stay updated and follow JAMB’s verified platforms for accurate information.
Tier one lender, Fidelity Bank Plc has reaffirmed its commitment to health and social welfare with the donation of food and essential items to inmates at the Enugu Maximum Security Custodial Centre.
The outreach was carried out by the newly inducted Legacy Class of 2026 and executed under the bank’s flagship Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) platform known as the Fidelity Helping Hands Project (FHHP). Through the FHHP, staff identify areas of critical interventions in their immediate communities, raise funds and then receive matching financial support from the bank’s management to execute the projects.
Items donated by the Legacy class include a range of food supplies such as garri, spaghetti, noodles, biscuits, milk, and other essential consumables aimed at supporting the welfare and living conditions of inmates at the facility.
Speaking on the visit, Divisional Head, Brand and Communications Division, Fidelity Bank Plc, Dr Meksley Nwagboh, described the initiative as a key component of the Bank’s culture, designed to inspire compassion and a sense of responsibility in its workforce.
“As part of our induction programme, we encourage new staff to identify meaningful ways to impact their communities. In assessing the needs of this facility, it became clear that providing food and other essentials would make an immediate difference. With over 3,000 inmates here, the daily effort required to feed and care for them is enormous. We believe that this donation will significantly support the centre’s ongoing work and contribute to improving the welfare of the inmates,” he said.
Nwagboh further emphasized the broader vision behind the initiative, noting that the bank is committed to raising socially conscious professionals. “At Fidelity Bank, we are intentional about building not just skilled employees, but responsible citizens. Initiatives like this help our staff connect with real societal needs and inspire them to make meaningful contributions beyond the workplace,” he stated.
In his response, the Deputy Controller of Corrections at the facility, Dr. Sunday Igwe, commended Fidelity Bank for nurturing a strong culture of social responsibility among its workforce. He described the donation as timely and impactful, noting that it would help alleviate some of the operational challenges faced by the facility.
Igwe further used the opportunity to caution Nigerians, particularly young professionals, against engaging in criminal activities such as fraud and cybercrime, emphasizing that personal decisions can have far-reaching consequences.
“People must understand that their choices determine their outcomes. We encourage everyone to stay focused and avoid actions that may bring them into conflict with the law,” he advised.
The Fidelity Helping Hands Project remains one of Fidelity Bank’s key CSR initiatives, enabling employee-led contributions that drive meaningful impact through inclusive development across Nigeria.
Ranked among the best banks in Nigeria, Fidelity Bank Plc is a full-fledged Commercial Deposit Money Bank serving over 10 million customers through digital banking channels, its 255 business offices in Nigeria and United Kingdom subsidiary, FidBank UK Limited.
The Bank is a recipient of multiple local and international Awards, including the 2024 Excellence in Digital Transformation & MSME Banking Award by BusinessDay Banks and Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards; the 2024 Most Innovative Mobile Banking Application award for its Fidelity Mobile App by Global Business Outlook, and the 2024 Most Innovative Investment Banking Service Provider award by Global Brands Magazine. Additionally, the Bank was recognized as the Best Bank for SMEs in Nigeria by the Euromoney Awards for Excellence and as the Export Financing Bank of the Year by the BusinessDay Banks and Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards.
L-R: Team Lead, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Fidelity Bank Plc, Victoria Abuka; Deputy Controller of Corrections, Enugu Maximum Security Custodial Centre, Dr. Sunday Igwe; Team Lead, Human Resources and Business Partner, East & South, Fidelity Bank Plc, Osayi Uwumarongie; and President, Legacy Inductees Class of 2026, Fidelity Bank Plc, Darlington Okereke; during Fidelity Bank’s donation of food and essential items to Enugu Maximum Security Custodial Centre, in Enugu State recently.
The Ondo State Police Command has arrested six suspects following a foiled attempt to bomb government facilities in Akure, the state capital.
On April 16, 2026 , the state Police Commissioner, Adebowale Lawal, described the operation as a “major breakthrough” in neutralizing the planned attack.
The suspects had allegedly infiltrated the state after mapping out the specific location of attacks.
While disclosing the development on Thursday, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Adebowale Lawal, during a press briefing at the state headquarters of the command, revealed that operatives were deployed to the identified area after receiving the intel.
According to Lawal, the suspects were apprehended before the planned attack could be executed, adding that the operation led to the arrest of six suspects as well as the recovery of materials suspected to be components for the fabrication of IEDs.
The police boss identified the suspects as Adekunle Prosper, 56, Ojo Olumide, 39, Tope Kolawole, 40, Ahmed Salihu, 40, Bolaji Adebowale, 46, and Gbadebo Abidemi, 43.
He said, “A thorough search of the scene and a subsequent operation at the suspects’ apartment resulted in the recovery of a cache of items, including 217 bottles, a bag of sugar, criminal charms, 17 mobile phones, the sum of N187,000, two HP laptops, eight slings, one knife, an external hard drive, two identity cards, one National Identity Number (NIN) card, and two motorcycles, among other items.
“Preliminary assessments indicate that some of these materials were intended for the construction of explosive devices, while others may have been used to facilitate coordinated criminal activities.
“Early findings from the investigation reveal that the group actively engaged in assembling IEDs allegedly intended for deployment on government infrastructures, with indications that their operations may extend beyond the state capital to other parts of the country.”
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