Kwara Poly Suspends Lecturer After Viral Video Shows IJMB Candidates Being Flogged During Exams

Kwara Poly Suspends Lecturer After Viral Video Shows IJMB Candidates Being Flogged During Exams

The management of Kwara State Polytechnic has suspended a lecturer after a disturbing viral video showed him physically assaulting candidates of the Interim Joint Matriculation Board (IJMB) programme within the institution's premises.

The incident, which has sparked nationwide outrage and intense debate over the treatment of students in educational institutions, has once again raised concerns about the use of corporal punishment in higher education settings across Nigeria.

The now-viral video, which surfaced on social media on Monday, captured several IJMB candidates kneeling with their hands raised while the lecturer took turns flogging them with a cane on their palms.

 The footage quickly attracted widespread condemnation from Nigerians, education advocates, students, and civil society groups, many of whom described the act as degrading, abusive, and unacceptable.

Several social media users questioned why such a disciplinary method was being used in a tertiary institution, arguing that students, regardless of their misconduct, should not be subjected to physical punishment.

Reacting to the incident, the President of the National Association of Nigerian Students, Akinteye Babatunde, strongly condemned the lecturer's actions, insisting that no student should be treated in such a manner.

In a statement, Babatunde said students are human beings deserving of dignity and respect and should never be subjected to physical abuse under any circumstance.

“A lecturer in Kwara State Polytechnic asked IJMB students to kneel down and beat them with a cane. Such an act is condemnable. Students are not animals and should never be treated as such. There are different ways to punish erring students, not beating them up,” he said.

He further stressed that while students must remain respectful toward lecturers and avoid misconduct, lecturers equally have no right to physically assault students.

Babatunde called on the institution's management to carry out a thorough investigation and impose appropriate sanctions on anyone found culpable.

Amid the growing public backlash, the institution swiftly responded to the controversy.

In an official statement released on Monday by the Polytechnic's Public Relations Officer, Halimat Garba, the management clarified that the individuals seen in the viral video were not regular students of the Polytechnic but candidates participating in the Interim Joint Matriculation Board programme.

According to the institution, the candidates had reportedly arrived late for their ongoing examinations.

However, the Polytechnic emphasised that regardless of the circumstances surrounding the incident, the method adopted by the lecturer was completely unacceptable.

“The attention of Kwara State Polytechnic Management has been drawn to a viral video circulating on social media in which a lecturer is seen physically reprimanding students,” the statement read.

“The Management wishes to clarify that the students depicted in the video are not Polytechnic students but rather IJMB candidates who arrived late for their ongoing examinations.”

The institution noted that the exact motive behind the lecturer's action was still being investigated but maintained that physical punishment has no place within its educational environment.

“While the intention for which the action was done is not yet known, we must emphasise that the approach taken was wholly inappropriate, as the Polytechnic stands firmly against any form of violence or physical punishment as a means of discipline,” the statement added.

The management reiterated its commitment to fostering an atmosphere built on respect, understanding, and constructive guidance rather than fear and intimidation.

“We believe that education should be rooted in respect, understanding, and constructive guidance, and that there are far more effective and humane ways to instil important values in students,” the institution stated.

As part of immediate disciplinary measures, the Polytechnic announced the suspension of the lecturer involved pending the outcome of a full-scale investigation.

“The Polytechnic Management therefore suspends the concerned lecturer from his duties pending the outcome of the findings on this matter,” the statement said.

The institution also reassured members of the public, parents, and stakeholders that it is treating the matter with utmost seriousness and remains committed to upholding the values and reputation for which the institution is known.

“We appreciate the concerns raised by stakeholders regarding this incident and assure the public that the matter is being taken very seriously. We are determining the necessary steps to prevent a recurrence of such incidents in the future,” the statement concluded.

The incident has reignited conversations about student rights, ethical standards in education, and the urgent need for institutions across Nigeria to adopt modern disciplinary approaches that prioritise human dignity, emotional well-being, and mutual respect.

Many observers believe the outcome of the investigation could set an important precedent for how cases involving alleged abuse of students are handled in tertiary institutions nationwide.