Sickening footage has emerged of a teacher allegedly flogging an entire class of children for missing the start of term at a Nigerian school.
A total of 15 students – who appeared to be in their early or pre-teens – were seen being repeatedly whipped across the back, legs, face and torso during a harrowing three-minute clip.
The man appeared to revel in his role as punisher, delivering blows with venom as the children were forced to submit to a public schoolyard lashing in front of their classmates.
Merciless: The teacher can be seen reveling in administering his punishment by flagellation
It is not known when exactly the teacher carried out his inhumane beatings
A group of more than a dozen adults watched the barbaric spectacle and appeared to do nothing as the students cried out in pain and begged for mercy.
It is claimed school prefects received six lashes each – three more than their classmates – for not ensuring their attendance for the resumption of lectures.
The distressing video – reportedly filmed in Eggon, Nasarawa State – was posted on Facebook on Monday and has been shared more than 22,000 times. It is not clear exactly when it was shot.
It shows a large man towering over a small girl on the ground holding a whip above his head.
She shrieks as he brings it crashing down on her three times – the third blow is so hard it knocks her off the step she was lying next to.
The man says ‘next’ and another girl lies down in front of him.
She tries to position her arm to shield her leg but he moves it away, saying: ‘Move your hand.’
He then viciously whips her across the back and chest six times as she writhes in pain and her body contorts.
The chilling procession continues as the children meekly approach the step to be flogged one-by-one.
The punishment floggings have created outrage on social media
A girl appears to take several blows full in the face from close range, another is hit before she even has a chance to lie down and brace herself.
An older boy cries and begs the man not to hurt him as he squats down on the ground, before taking three savage blows to the back.
Throughout, the adults calmly stand and watch.
The heartbreaking scenes sparked outrage on Facebook and prompted calls for the school to be shut down.
Chinwe Iwueke commented: ‘My God, what did they do? Why would they receive this kind of beating? Children that went to school to learn. Unbelievable.’
Princess Adeoti wrote: ‘So sad this still goes on in Nigeria. I went to an expensive private school and yes I WAS caned the same way. I also remember teachers being slapped multiple times by parents who pay thousands on fees.’
Angelina Katumbella added: ‘In what world are we living? This is happening in the 21st Century? People need to just say enough is enough.’
A crowd of onlookers appears to do nothing to intervene and stands by watching