As the issue of bullying in Nigerian schools has taken a front-row seat in public discourse following the death of the late Sylvester Oromoni, a Dowen College student, a mother has shared how she learnt that her own daughter was a bully in her school.
The woman, Abigail Oni, wrote via her Twitter handle: @Talk2Abby_, that her daughter had frequently lamented that she had no friend in her class and none of her classmates wanted to be her friend.
She stated that following the incident of the late Oromoni, who recently died after he was allegedly beaten by his seniors at Dowen College, the mother said she decided to visit her daughter’s school to enquire on why her child had no friends in her class.
According to Ms Oni, she got to the school in time to meet her daughter’s classmates after the end of their classes and she subsequently asked them which of them does not want to be her child’s friend. To her surprise, she said all the classmates raised up their hands.
Ms Oni, who described herself as a professional clinical counsellor, then asked why that was the case, to which they replied that her daughter always looked for their trouble and never apologised when she was wrong.
My daughter has been complaining that no one likes her in class and all her classmates have refused to be her friend.
In the wake of all that's been happening in the country lately (you know the story) I decided to pay her a surprise visit in school today.#Thread 👇
— Your Therapist🫂 (@Talk2Abby_) December 6, 2021
“My daughter has been complaining that no one likes her in class and all her classmates have refused to be her friend. In the wake of all that’s been happening in the country lately (you know the story) I decided to pay her a surprise visit in school today,” @Talk2Abby_ wrote on Twitter.
“Called the school that I’ll be picking her up instead of the school bus. Got there early enough to meet her classmates. She was so happy to see me and her friends as well. I sat down with them & ask ‘who amongst you don’t want to be Olivia’s friend again?’
“Everyone raised their hands. I cringed. ‘Why please’? Everyone: because she is always looking for my trouble and will not say sorry.
“So apparently, madam is the Queen B of the class and has been bullying everyone, so not fair at all.”
Ms Oni said she then addressed her daughter in front of her classmates and advised her never to do such again, telling her that her classmates would never want to be friends with her intimidate and harass them without sincerely apologising and vowing not to repeat such action again.
The little girl, the mother said, subsequently apologised to her all classmates, who were delighted with the turnover of a new leaf.
“We had the talk in front of her classmates. I told her that if you hurt your mates, they’ll never want to be your friend and if you say sorry to them you have to mean it & not repeat the same mistakes. Most importantly if anyone hurts you, report to your teacher.
“She apologised to everyone and meant it this time. Next thing she shouted ‘everyone come give me a hug’ and they all ran to hug her. children!” the mother wrote.
Oni added that she was glad that she went to the school to decipher the situation herself “and not assume, as parents we need to do better”.
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