Rivers State has recorded 54 cases of violence against children within school premises and 15 deaths linked to sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) in 2025, raising fresh concerns over the safety of pupils across the state.
The figures were disclosed by the Coordinator of the Rivers State Response Team on Violence Against Women and Children (VAWC), Mr Tombari Dumka-Kote, during a programme titled “Brushes for Justice: Young Voices, Powerful Message – Art for a World Without Violence,” organised by Amaclare Connect Initiative in Port Harcourt.
Dumka-Kote said the reported cases reflected a worrying trend of sexual exploitation, abuse and physical violence in both public and private schools, noting that many incidents remained underreported due to fear, intimidation and lack of trust in reporting mechanisms.
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He recounted several disturbing cases, including an incident in which a pupil was allegedly flogged with 105 strokes of cane by Mrs Gift Nwoko, proprietress of Happy Day International School, Rumunduru, Port Harcourt, for reporting an alleged sexual assault by a teacher to her mother.
The VAWC Coordinator also cited three other cases involving the alleged defilement of pupils aged two, four and four years by a school minder, a teacher and an elderly pupil aged nine at Bethlehemite Covenant Child International Montessori School, Rumuepirikom; Sapphire G International Academy, Rumuepirikom; and Bright International School, Agip Estate, Port Harcourt, respectively.
He called on the Rivers State Commissioner of Police to ensure the transfer of the case files from the Rumuepirikom and Agip Police Divisions to his office to enable proper investigation and prosecution of those involved.
While addressing students at the event, Dumka-Kote urged them to speak out and report any form of sexual exploitation or abuse to trusted adults, assuring that the Response Team would collaborate with the Rivers State Ministry of Education to shut down schools found to be unsafe for children.
He criticised some private school owners and managers for allegedly intimidating parents and guardians instead of prioritising the welfare and rehabilitation of traumatised child survivors, describing such actions as unacceptable.
“Some schools have become torture centres for children. Individuals who are not conversant with child protection protocols should not be allowed to own or manage schools in Rivers State,” he said.
Dumka-Kote further revealed that within the last 12 months, the Response Team recorded 1,053 cases of gender-based violence across the state, with defilement, rape, spousal battery, abandonment and child labour accounting for about 72% of reported cases.
The programme formed part of activities marking the annual 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, a global campaign observed from November 25 to December 10 to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls. This year’s theme is “Unite to End Digital Violence Against Women and Girls.”
