Bullying­: Police launch probe as Ekiti varsity expels students

Two female students were expelled by Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology, Ikere Ekiti, for harassing a fellow student.

This happened as a result of the social media uproar that accompanied the video of two female pupils at the school attacking another female student.

This came as Mr. Adeniran Akinwale, the Commissioner of Police in Ekiti State, announced on Tuesday that he had launched an inquiry into the event.

A disturbing viral video on social media platforms showed "one Miss Opemiposi Precious Bolaji, an 18-year-old 100L Mass Communication student, beating her colleague identified as Miss Gloria Ajayi, a 100L Mass Communication student, in a private hostel outside the university campus," according to a statement released by the institution's public relations officer, Mr. Temitope Akinbisoye, on Tuesday.
"Any sort of violence or misconduct on our campus or by any of our constituents is strongly condemned by the university administration. Such behaviour is totally at odds with the principles we uphold and the decency and respect we demand of every student at our university.


"In compliance with the policies and current regulations of our institution, the affected students appeared before the Students' Disciplinary Committee at its emergency meeting held on Monday, May 6, 2024," Akinbisoye stated.


He stated that the university officials had expelled Bolaji, "who was beating her colleague with a stick and threatening to inflict bodily harm on her, having found her guilty of misconduct and flagrant breach of her matriculation oath," after taking the SDC's report and recommendations into consideration.
According to the PRO, Osaro was dismissed immediately after it was determined that she had committed misbehaviour as an accomplice and had flagrantly broken her matriculation oath. She also gave Ajayi the stick that she was assaulted with.

"Who gleefully recorded the video and posted it on social media were warned and advised to always report such incidents to the Directorate of Students’ Affairs and the Security Unit of the university, rather than escalating it on social media," the institution's spokesperson continued. Miss Mistura Adejuwon and Miss Precious Olanrewaju were also informed.


The 200L Mass Communication student Mr. Olawale Ajewole, he continued, "was exonerated for making efforts to lock Miss Ajayi inside a room to prevent further beating."

He continued by saying that Miss Ajayi, "who was seen being beaten in the viral video but did not retaliate or engage in fisticuffs with her tormentors," had been cleared by the committee and the university administration.

The PRO reaffirmed that the university will tolerate no indiscipline at all and that it was dedicated to creating a welcoming and safe environment for all students.

We urge everyone who sees or encounters any kind of bullying, abuse, or violence against a student to report it right once to the relevant authorities, he stated.

In the meantime, Ikere Area Commander was instructed by Police Commissioner Akinwale to communicate with the institution's administration and “make sure the perpetrator is identified, investigated, and made to face the legal consequence(s) of her actions.”
The commissioner pleaded with the public to maintain composure and refrain from enforcing laws on their own in a statement sent by Sunday Abutu, the public relations officer for the state police.

"The state police command is not unaware of a video that is currently making the rounds on social media in which a female student at BOUESTI is seen abusing and harassing another female student," he declared. The act is deemed intolerable and inhumane by the command.