The Rivers State Ministry of Education has launched an investigation into reports that 16 female students of Government Comprehensive High School in Taabaa, Khana Local Government Area, were selected for alleged forced virginity testing.
The alleged incident occurred on September 17, 2026, on the premises of Government Comprehensive High School, Taabaa, located in the Ogoni region of Rivers State. According to preliminary reports, individuals claiming to represent a community or traditional group visited the school under the pretext of offering exercise books and academic scholarships.
During the visit, the group selected 16 female students for a physical examination and virginity test. The action met immediate resistance from the student body, leading to a peaceful protest within the school grounds as students resisted the invasive procedure.
In an official statement released in Port Harcourt on Friday, October 23, 2026, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Dr. Mina Tele-Ikuru, speaking on behalf of the Ministry, strongly condemned the attempt, describing it as a gross violation of the students’ fundamental human rights, dignity, and privacy.
”No individual, traditional institution, community body, or private organisation has the authority to subject students to virginity testing or any other form of abuse,” Dr. Tele-Ikuru stated. “Educational assistance, including scholarships, must be provided transparently and without conditions that compromise the safety or dignity of beneficiaries.”
The Commissioner for Education, Peters Nwagor, reinforced the government’s stance, issuing strict directives to all public and private schools across Rivers State to protect students from coercive, invasive, or degrading practices carried out under the guise of cultural traditions, scholarship programs, or disciplinary measures.
The Ministry of Education confirmed that a formal investigation is underway to establish the full facts surrounding the invasion. It assured parents, guardians, and the school community that appropriate administrative and legal actions will be taken against anyone found culpable.
When contacted regarding police involvement, the spokesperson for the Rivers State Police Command, ASP Agabe Blessing Kaborlo, indicated that security agencies were making inquiries into the petition and circumstances surrounding the incident.
