A heated confrontation at Starville School, located in the Jahi district of Abuja, escalated into violence on November 14, 2025, when the parents of a pupil slapped a teacher, identified as Mr. Nakundu, during a meeting in the principal’s office. The clash stemmed from an earlier incident in which the teacher allegedly slapped their son after the child reportedly pushed him.
The altercation inside the principal’s office was captured on video and has since gone viral, drawing widespread public attention. In the footage, the boy’s mother is seen confronting and slapping the teacher, while the father and other individuals engage in a heated exchange. The video also shows the mother attempting to seize a cameraman’s device.
According to accounts circulating online, the confrontation began after the student allegedly pushed the teacher during class. Mr. Nakundu reportedly reacted by slapping the student, an action the parents considered excessive and unacceptable. The parents claim the teacher had assaulted their child on previous occasions. Conversely, some commenters allege the mother had issued threats to the teacher before the meeting.
Despite the public outcry, Starville School had not released an official statement regarding the incident as of November 15, 2025. There is also no confirmation yet of whether the school has initiated disciplinary procedures or contacted law enforcement.
The incident has sparked intense debate on social media platform X, with many Nigerians criticizing both parties and calling for a thorough investigation by education authorities and the police.
Some users questioned how the situation spiraled into violence:
- @abazwhyllz wrote: “My question is, what if the teacher decides to go and tell his own parents that he was slâpped?”
Others criticized what they described as poor upbringing and a lack of discipline:
- @_Mo6ix argued that the student displayed disrespect: “Something’s wrong with the boy’s background. He was rude to an adult… the boy poked him and he reacted that way. Parents should do better.”
A number of users condemned both the teacher and the parents, insisting that neither party acted responsibly:
- @niskool commented: “Two wrongs don’t make a right… The parents only exposed Nigeria’s culture of impunity… The school should have handled the situation, not the parents taking the law into their own hands.”
Nostalgic comparisons to stricter school discipline in earlier years also surfaced:
- @AriDonFX1 wrote: “Things don spoil… back then when teacher go flog person. They no born you well to tell your parents because you go chop beating too.”
Advocates against corporal punishment used the moment to reaffirm concerns:
- @Theyfwstephen stated: “Corporal punishment is prohibited… He shouldn’t have slapped the boy… but the parents could have handled things differently.”
Others urged calm and non-violence:
- @anasuachara described the situation as “heartbreaking,” adding: “It shows how quickly conflict can spiral out of control when anger takes over… Patience, calm communication, and respect are far stronger than violence.”
The viral incident has intensified pressure on FCT education authorities and the Nigeria Police to step in, investigate the matter, and clarify the legal consequences for both the teacher and the parents. Many Nigerians are also urging Starville School to publicly address its disciplinary policies and explain what steps it will take to prevent similar situations in the future.
As the debate continues, the incident has reopened national conversations on school discipline, parental responsibility, and the dangers of resolving conflicts through violence.
