Relatives Physically Assault Teacher for Flogging Student

 A female teacher named Sonia Amadi, employed by a secondary school in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, was ambushed on her way to work by relatives of a JSS1 student whom she had reportedly flogged for misconduct. According to witness account, Sonia Amadi who taught English at the Silver Bird International School located in Agip, Mile 4 area of Port Harcourt, had flogged the student named Favour on Friday 3rd May 2024 and on the morning of Monday 6th May, the young student's(in JSS1)three older brothers had stormed the school in search of the teacher.

Disrupting the school's activities the embittered relatives of the JSS1 student, had also locked the school's administrative officer in an office during her attempt to deny them entry into the classrooms. Speaking of her ordeal, the school's admin officer named Joy Ajayi, stated to the press: "One of the boys carried the scissors we used in doing school work and threatened to stab me. He asked why should they flog his brother in this school,” she narrated. All the teachers came out that there was no need for them to take this thing to that extent. But they refused to open the door. There was a parent inside here with me and we were resolving an issue. So the parent had to start begging them that they should calm down. They were here for more than 15 to 20 minutes. My teachers were outside trying to get inside but they could not. They were saying they would flog me and that we should go and call the Police or lawyer. I now said I have a right to defend myself. As I was talking, that was when their father came, and said they should open the door. They opened the door and their father now said he wanted to take his family and that he would come back later. Before they came to my office and locked me up, a teacher was flogged, my English teacher Sonia Amadi when she was coming to school.They flogged her seriously. She is in the office and I have to ask her to calm down. The mother of the boy also slapped her as she was coming to school”

In response to the incident, the school management affirmed lodging a formal complaint at the Ada-George Police Division and Ms. Amadi being provided with a medical form for necessary treatment. Expressing outrage over the attack, the National Coordinator of the Centre for Basic Rights Protection and Accountability Campaign, Prince Wiro, strongly denounced the violence and intrusion at the school. He urged individuals to address any concerns through proper channels such as the Ministry of Education or law enforcement instead of resorting to aggressive actions.