A nursery school in Abakpa Nike, Enugu State, has come under heavy criticism after a teacher allegedly flogged a three-year-old pupil, leaving visible marks on her legs.
The incident, which sparked outrage online, was exposed by the child’s mother, Jennifer Nwafor, who took to Facebook to demand justice for her daughter.
In a viral video posted on Monday, Nwafor confronted officials of the school, accusing them of shielding the teacher responsible for the assault.
“See what a teacher did to my child in school today. A three-year-old child. Guys, I’m bleeding right now. They employed a mad woman as a teacher and hid her from me,” she lamented in her post.
In one of the videos, the visibly angry mother was seen insisting that the school produce the teacher.
“They are hiding the teacher. They are refusing to bring her out because all of them are involved. Look at my child, a child of three years. They must bring her out,” she said.
Nwafor later confirmed on Tuesday that her daughter was receiving treatment after developing a fever from the beating. “She is having fever but under treatment now. She is getting better,” she wrote.
The videos have since gone viral, drawing strong condemnation from Nigerians who demanded immediate action.
One Facebook user, Nsikak Essien, wrote, “The teacher needs to be dealt with.”
Another user, St Kingdom Nwankwoala, advised the mother to take legal steps, saying, “Your actions should be towards arresting that teacher and making the school pay for not properly vetting their teachers before employing them.”
Others urged relevant authorities, including the Ministry of Education and child rights agencies, to intervene and ensure justice.
The incident has once again ignited debate over corporal punishment in Nigerian schools. Many parents and child advocates have continued to call for stricter regulations and training for teachers on handling young pupils.
In January, a similar case was reported in Lagos when a teacher was arrested for repeatedly slapping a three-year-old pupil for not writing as instructed.
As of the time of filing this report, the school in Enugu is yet to issue an official statement.
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