Allegations of Bullying at Igbinedion Secondary School: A Former Student's Testimony

Ollachi Holman, a former pupil of Igbinedion Secondary School, revealed her traumatic experiences along with those of other students during their time at the institution, asserting that many continue to struggle with the lasting effects of these experiences.

Her comments come in the wake of footage circulating that shows students enduring extreme bullying and mistreatment by their peers at the school.

In reference to the distressing video that has gone viral, Ollachi mentioned that the cruelty shown in the clip pales in comparison to the ordeals she and her schoolmates faced.

She described a school environment where bullying was rampant, noting that some students were so severely affected that they attempted suicide. Additionally, she cited the alarming trend of students joining cults within the school as a means of seeking protection.

Ollachi accused both teachers and school officials of being indifferent and failing to take action against the pervasive bullying that occurred.

She pointed out a culture where male students would physically assault female classmates without facing any repercussions.

"I remember instances of boys slapping girls and using belts to whip them in the open during daylight hours. Honestly, where were the adults?" she recounted.

She further shared a harrowing incident from her school days where armed robbers invaded the girls' hostel; when a student tried to alert the authorities, she was shot at. The following day, Ollachi claimed that the school's management prevented them from contacting their parents.

In a chilling account, she narrated how one of her classmates was assaulted by robbers armed with a cutlass. Instead of support, the principal allegedly reprimanded the student and accused her of being promiscuous, which led to the locking up of all students to suppress any disclosures regarding the incident to their guardians.

"After that incident, Igbinedion locked us in the dormitory, restricting our ability to warn parents not to send their children to the school and forbidding us from informing anyone that we had been robbed and shot at the previous night," she stated.

Ollachi mentioned that the assaulted student, who was also shamed by the school's principal, has been suffering from night terrors ever since the traumatic event.

She noted that many students resorted to drastic measures, including suicide attempts, feeling that violence and drug use were the only methods to cope with the distress they encountered at the school.

"Personally, I jumped off a building in 2000 in an attempt to end my life due to the unbearable situation in that school. I even had a friend who tried to hang himself from a ceiling fan three times to escape from Igbinedion," she recounted.

She added that several students developed drug problems and violent tendencies which many have struggled to recover from.

Ollachi also disclosed her deep personal loss, revealing that her brother died recently from a drug addiction that stemmed from his time at Igbinedion. "In July of last year, I traveled to Mexico and cremated my brother, bringing his ashes back home. He battled a drug issue he acquired while at Igbinedion and never managed to overcome," she explained.

Expressing gratitude for the viral bullying video, Ollachi stated it validates the claims she has made over the years about the conditions in the school.

"When I spoke out, it seemed as though I was fabricating stories. Now, with the evidence brought to light through social media, everyone can finally understand the truth of what I was conveying about the situation in that school," she remarked.

She urged former pupils to speak out against bullying at the school, insisting that even those who were previously bullies should take responsibility and advocate for change.

Additionally, she criticized the Igbinedion Education Centre's inadequate response to the viral footage, pointing out errors in their statement, including the presence of a deceased individual’s name on the list of officials.

Ollachi, who now resides in the United States and is a mother to a teenage child, emphasized the importance of awareness and transparency regarding the troubling environment reported at Igbinedion Secondary School.

Following her revelations, another distressing video surfaced depicting current students bullying their peers at the same school.