Lagos School Suspends Teacher Seen Assaulting 3-Year-Old Pupil in Video

Stella Nwadigo, the teacher who was filmed physically assaulting a three-year-old pupil, Michael Abayomi, in a viral video, has been suspended by her employer, Christ Mitots School in the Ikorodu suburb of Lagos.

In a statement, the school expressed its concern over the footage, calling the teacher’s actions “unacceptable and contrary to the values and principles of our school.”

The school confirmed that Nwadigo has been suspended indefinitely pending the conclusion of an investigation.

The statement read in part:

“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.

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.

Additionally, we have introduced a confidential whistle-blowing system to encourage the prompt reporting of inappropriate behaviour.

We ask for the public’s patience and understanding as we work to address this matter responsibly and comprehensively.”