Lagos teacher suspended for assaulting three-year-old pupil in viral video
By Jeffrey Agbo
Stella Nwadigo, a female teacher at Christ Mitots School in Ikorodu, Lagos, has been indefinitely suspended after a viral video showed her assaulting a toddler, Abayomi Michael, during a numeracy lesson.
The video, which sparked widespread outrage on social media, captured the female teacher violently striking the three-year-old child for struggling with the lesson. Following the public backlash, the teacher was arrested on Wednesday.
In a statement, the school management expressed deep concern over the incident, labelling the teacher’s behaviour as “unacceptable and contrary to the values and principles of our school.” They confirmed her suspension pending the outcome of an ongoing investigation.
The statement said, “We are aware of a deeply troubling incident involving one of our teachers and a student, which has been circulating on social media.
“The video shows a teacher engaging in the physical discipline of a student in a manner that is completely unacceptable and contrary to the values and principles of our school.
“As an institution deeply committed to fostering a culture of respect, care, and dignity, we are horrified by this incident and wish to make unequivocally clear that such actions will not be tolerated.
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“In response, the teacher involved has been suspended indefinitely while a thorough investigation is conducted.
“This immediate and decisive action reflects our zero-tolerance policy toward misconduct and our obligation to safeguard the safety and well-being of every child under our care.
“We extend our sincerest apologies to the student and their family. We have reached out to them personally to express our regret, after cur support, and ensure that their needs are fully addressed during this time.
“In light of this incident, we are taking firm steps to ensure that such behaviour is never repeated. As such, we will be organizing mandatory training sessions for teachers to reinforce child protection protocols, emphasize positive disciplinary practices, and cultivate greater sensitivity in interactions with students.”
The management further said it has introduced a “confidential whistle-blowing system” to encourage the prompt reporting of inappropriate behaviour.
