In a bold move against bullying, Namtira Bwala, a student at Lead British International School, Gwarimpa, Abuja, has threatened legal action against the school authorities if her abusers are not punished within 48 hours.
In a letter addressed to the school, Bwala’s lawyers, Deji Adeyanju and Co, condemned the recurring acts of bullying within the institution. The letter, acting on behalf of Bwala, emphasized the emotional and physical toll of the oppressive behavior endured by the student and others.
The recent incident, captured in a viral video on social media, depicted Bwala subjected to physical attacks by fellow students. Despite this, the school’s response, characterized as timid by Bwala’s legal representatives, failed to acknowledge the severity of the situation.
The lawyers demanded immediate investigation and the imposition of stringent sanctions on the alleged perpetrators, including Ms. Maryam Hassan, Miss Faliya, and nine other students implicated in forming a “cult of bullies” within the school premises.
Failure to comply with the demands outlined in the letter within the stipulated 48-hour period would result in legal action against Lead British International School, Gwarimpa, according to Bwala’s legal team.
The threat of litigation underscores the gravity of the issue and signals a resolute stance against bullying within educational institutions. It also highlights the responsibility of school authorities to ensure the safety and well-being of students under their care.
Efforts to reach the school administration for comments on the matter were unsuccessful at the time of filing this report.
The case serves as a stark reminder of the pervasive issue of bullying in schools and the urgent need for decisive action to address it. As the deadline approaches, all eyes are on Lead British International School to see how they will respond to the demands for justice and accountability.
A letter from her lawyers, Deji Adeyanju and Co, to the school reads
“We are Solicitors to Miss. Namtira Bwala (acting through her next friend), hereinafter referred to as our client, on whose instruction we act.
Our client and several other parents in Lead British International School have informed us and we verily believe them that this act of bullying is a reoccurring issue in the school, and despite several attempts to draw the school’s attention to it, the issue has persisted, leaving our client traumatised from the emotional and physical effect of the oppressive acts by these dare devil bullies.
Regrettably, our client has once again, been subjected to physical attacks in the hands of these bullies, with the video of the act going viral on social media.
Sadly, rather than address this issue head-on by imposing severe sanctions on the student bullies, the school has issued a timid statement lacking in force or recognition of the severity of the situation at hand.
Our client completely dissociate herself from the statement issued by the school on April 22, 2024 wherein a case of battery was unconscionably referred to as an “incident between minors.
We state that it is this type of statements, coupled with the school’s gross negligence, that has enabled the student bullies, leading to increased incidents of unchecked bullying in the school, an environment that should ordinarily be a safe space for students.
Sequel to the foregoing, we have our client’s instruction to demand for the immediate investigation and the pronouncement of the stiffest possible sanctions in the student’s rule book, on Ms. Maryam Hassan, Miss Faliya and nine other students who have formed a cult of bullies in Lead British International School, Gwarimpa, Abuja.
Please note that if the school fails to sanction the student bullies within 48 hours of the receipt of this letter, we have our client’s further instruction to seek an immediate and severe legal redress against Lead British International School, Gwarimpa, without further recourse to you.”’’
