he management of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, has ordered a full-scale investigation into a viral incident involving a female student allegedly assaulting a lecturer during an altercation. The incident, which was captured in videos circulating on social media, has sparked widespread reactions.
In a statement signed by the university’s spokesperson, Njelita Louis, the institution assured the public that the matter would be handled with fairness and transparency.
“The Acting Vice-Chancellor, Joseph I. Ikechebelu, has ordered a full-scale, transparent, and unbiased investigation into the matter,” the statement read. “We urge all concerned parties and members of the public to remain calm while the university addresses this issue.”
The statement further emphasized the university’s commitment to discipline and ethical standards, warning that misconduct of any kind would not be tolerated. “Nnamdi Azikiwe University remains an institution of learning that upholds high moral and ethical standards. There is no place for indiscipline, misconduct, or any form of unacceptable behavior within our community,” it added.
The incident on Tuesday, revealing that a student, identified as Precious Mbakwe, allegedly assaulted a lecturer, Chukwudu Okoye, after he interrupted her while she was recording a video in a university hallway.
Videos reviewed by this newspaper show Ms. Mbakwe, a third-year History and International Studies student, standing in a corridor and filming herself when Mr. Okoye, a lecturer in the Department of Theatre Arts, walked past. As he passed, he reportedly tapped her and said, “excuse me.”
The footage then captures the student reacting with visible displeasure, exclaiming, “Can you imagine? He just hit me.”
The situation quickly escalated, with Ms. Mbakwe confronting Mr. Okoye. Other students and university officials were drawn to the scene as the confrontation became chaotic.
Another clip from the viral footage shows Ms. Mbakwe aggressively engaging Mr. Okoye, grabbing his brown native outfit and eventually tearing the right side of the fabric. The lecturer, appearing to be in his 50s with graying hair, remained passive as the student pulled at him.
Photos circulating online reveal deep bite marks on Mr. Okoye’s arm, reportedly inflicted by Ms. Mbakwe during the scuffle. Another image shows him receiving medical treatment, allegedly at the university clinic.
In her defense, Ms. Mbakwe claimed she was taken aback when someone abruptly pushed her while she was filming.
“Initially, I thought it was a student, but when I turned around, I was shocked to see a man – a lecturer unbeknownst to me,” she explained in a statement.
She recounted how she mentioned the incident to her friend, only to find that the lecturer then attempted to grab her phone. “I didn’t even know he was a lecturer. I pleaded with him, ‘Sorry sir, why are you dragging my phone?’ But he remained silent, tugging at it until it fell and broke,” she stated.
Ms. Mbakwe further alleged that the lecturer inappropriately touched her during the scuffle.
“I was mortified. I tried to cover myself, pulling my dress together, and exclaimed in desperation, ‘Sir, I’ll hold you oh!’ I didn’t mean to threaten him; I just wanted him to release me,” she said.
She admitted to biting him but insisted it was a desperate act to free herself from his grip. “That was when I held his clothes and accidentally tore his shirt,” she added.
The student also alleged that some students from the Theatre Arts department later approached her with weapons, further escalating the situation before security personnel intervened.
Mr. Okoye, on the other hand, claimed that after walking past the student, he overheard her making a derogatory remark about him, which prompted him to return and verify if she was his student.
“I walked back to ascertain first if she was my student and second to make sure she deleted the video showing where I passed,” he stated.
According to him, when he asked her to delete the video, she resisted and reacted aggressively.
“I then demanded and reached for her phone, only to be bitten by the girl on both arms in quick succession,” he alleged.
He claimed that in response to the bite, he held her left hand to prevent her from running away. “That was when she lost it; she tore my clothes, slapped and scratched my face, and generally went berserk on me—all which I received with calm, to my admiration if I do say so myself,” he added.
Mr. Okoye also alleged that Ms. Mbakwe falsely accused him of stripping her in the faculty.
Following the altercation, university authorities swiftly intervened, taking both parties to the security office for questioning.
The university assured that justice would prevail and that appropriate sanctions would be imposed depending on the outcome of the investigation.
“This matter will be handled with the utmost professionalism, and anyone found guilty, regardless of their status, will face the necessary consequences,” an official said.
The incident has generated widespread debate on social media, with opinions sharply divided. Some have condemned the student’s actions, while others have called for a thorough investigation to ensure fairness.
“This is an embarrassment to the institution. No student should assault a lecturer,” one user commented.
Others argued that the lecturer’s alleged actions needed to be scrutinized as well. “If the lecturer actually grabbed her phone and made her feel uncomfortable, then he also has a case to answer,” another person wrote.
