Lecturer, student scuffle in UNIZIK over filmed social media content

A scuffle broke out at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) between a female student and a lecturer who interrupted her while she was filming social media content. 

In a now-trending video, a lady was shown dancing in front of her phone when the lecturer walked past her from behind.

While walking past her, the lecturer tapped the student on her shoulder and said, “Excuse me”, asking her to give way.

Reacting, the student raised eyebrows and murmured to another person standing behind the camera.

In another footage, the student was captured locking the lecturer’s shirt while dragging him among other students.

The lecturer has been identified as Chukwudi Okoye of UNIZIK’s theatre arts department.

The lady has also been identified as Precious Mbakwe, a third-year student of UNIZIK’s history studies department.

Shortly after the incident, the lecturer took a social media group to narrate his story.

Okoye said he tried to tell the student to delete the video he appeared from her phone.

He said as he tried to collect the phone, the lady dragged him by the shirt and scratched him with her nails.

“I had just left hall 19 where Dr Ebekue was teaching. Walking along the passage, I saw a girl doing a video with her phone (she had placed the phone on the window hood and was striking poses in the middle of the walkway),” a text attributed to him reads.

“Tapping her slightly, I asked her to excuse me as I walked past. After about 2 or 3 steps, I heard her say, ‘Who does this man think he is?’

“I walked back to ascertain first if she was my student and second to make sure she deleted the video showing where I passed.

“I then demanded and reached for her phone only to be bitten by the girl. Parent don’t train their children, anymore. To disrespect a man like this because you’re now a big girl where I passed.

“I then demanded and reached for her phone only to be bitten by the girl on both arms in quick succession. I then held onto her left hand so she wouldn’t get away.

“That was when she lost it; she tore my clothes, slapped and scratched my face. She generally went berserk on me, all of which I received with calm to my admiration if I do say so myself.

“We are just coming from the security office where she told them that I was stripping her in the faculty. I’m told her Mum is a lecturer in Engineering. Perhaps that gave her extra impetus.”

On her part, Mbakwe alleged that the lecturer assaulted her by touching and exposing her cleavages.

“This morning, around 11 am, I was recording a quick video with a friend along my lecture room hallway when, out of nowhere, I felt a push from my left side, accompanied by a curt ‘excuse me’. Initially, I thought it was a student,” she narrated in a text message.

“When I turned around, I was shocked to see a man. A lecturer, unbeknownst to me. I felt helpless, faint, and utterly disrespected. I whispered to my friend, ‘Omo, see how this lecturer pushed me’. My friend tried to reassure me.

“Before I could even process what had just happened, someone tried to grab my phone from behind. I held on tight, exclaiming in shock, and turned around to see the same man who had pushed me earlier. Mind you, 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 my phone until it fell and broke. I was devastated and at the same time still lamenting in pain as I picked up the pieces of my shattered phone.

“But the situation took a dark turn when the lecturer grasped my breast region saying unspeakable things. I was left stunned, trying to comprehend the horror unfolding before me.

“As I realized my cleavage was exposed, I begged him to let me go, but he ignored my pleas, holding me firmly. His nails and clutches left certain prints and scratches on my chest rather was mortified.

“I tried to cover myself, pulling my dress together, and exclaimed in desperation, ‘Sir, I’ll hold you ohh! I didn’t mean to threaten him; I just wanted him to release me. But he wouldn’t budge. In a split second, I bit his hand, hoping he’d let go.

“That was when I held his clothes and accidentally tore his shirt. The situation escalated, with some students intervening and in no time, I saw theatre arts students (from his department) approaching me with weapons.

“I was so terrified and hurt The security eventually arrived, taking me away in their van. I’m still shaken by the events that transpired.

“I never intended to disrespect a lecturer. I was acting under duress, protecting my dignity and interests as a woman. I’m deeply sorry for my reactions, and I hope that somehow, someway, this situation can be resolved peacefully.”

In a statement obtained by TheCable on Wednesday, Njelita Louis, UNIZIK’s acting head of PR and protocol, said the institution has commenced a probe into the incident.