The Rivers state government says it has commenced an investigation after a protest broke out at a public school in Khana LGA over the alleged forced virginity testing of female students.
Peters Nwagor, the commissioner for education, said a group
of people visited Government Comprehensive High School in Taabaa on September
17, 2026, under the guise of offering scholarships and exercise books.
Nwagor said the group, comprising members of the community,
allegedly selected 16 female students for the exercise, which the students
widely resisted, sparking protests at the school.
“The Rivers State Ministry of Education strongly condemns
reports of alleged forced virginity testing of female students of Government
Comprehensive High School (Senior Secondary), Taabaa, in Khana Local Government
Area, allegedly involving members of a traditional institution in the
community,” the statement reads.
“According to the report received by the Ministry, persons
claiming to act on behalf of that institution visited the school to select
female students for virginity testing under the guise of offering scholarships
and exercise books.”
The commissioner described the allegations as “extremely
serious and disturbing”, saying they raised concerns about the dignity, privacy
and fundamental rights of schoolchildren.
He said no individual, traditional institution, community
body or private organisation had the authority to subject students to virginity
testing or any other form of abuse.
“Educational assistance, including scholarships and exercise
books, must be provided transparently and without conditions that compromise
the safety, dignity or rights of beneficiaries,” he said.
“The Ministry has commenced an investigation into the report
to establish the facts, and will take all appropriate action, including
referral to the relevant authorities, against any person or body found to have
been involved.”
The commissioner cautioned traditional institutions,
community bodies and other individuals against selecting, examining or testing
female students for virginity, either directly or indirectly.
He said the ministry has directed all schools in the state
to uphold child protection standards and ensure that no student was subjected
to degrading, coercive or invasive practices under the guise of cultural
tradition, scholarship programmes, disciplinary measures or community
development initiatives.
He assured the students, their parents and guardians, and
the wider school community that their concerns were being taken seriously.
“The position of the Rivers State Ministry of Education is
unequivocal: the safety, dignity and fundamental rights of every student must
be protected at all times,” he added.
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