Tension has gripped Taabaa community in Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State following allegations that its traditional ruler, HRH Mene M.S.K. Nule, subjected female students of Government Comprehensive High School, Taabaa, to compulsory virginity checks.
The school’s management has petitioned the Rivers State Ministry of Education, accusing the monarch of allegedly forcing students to undergo the exercise, invading the school premises and taking control of its farm. The petition, dated October 12, 2026, called for an investigation into the allegations, which the school officials claimed had persisted for about seven years.
Although Nule denied subjecting the girls to medical virginity tests, he admitted conducting annual exercises to identify students who claimed to be virgins and encourage them to abstain from sexual activity until they completed their education.
The monarch said he began the exercise in 2020 after receiving reports that some teachers were allegedly sexually molesting female students. According to him, he visits the school with his team to ask students who are virgins to stand up.
He said only one girl responded when he first conducted the exercise, but the number increased to four by 2025. Nule added that he rewarded the four students with N20,000 each, insisting that the money was given directly to the girls rather than their parents.
The traditional ruler also admitted using warnings and what he described as subtle threats against teachers accused of molesting students, claiming that some teachers left the school because of fear. He maintained that his intervention was intended to protect the students and improve the school.
Meanwhile, the Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC-Nigeria) condemned the allegations, describing them as serious violations of the dignity and rights of the girl-child if established. The organisation said the alleged conduct could contravene the Child Rights Act and the Rivers State Child Rights Law, and called for an independent investigation.
The Rivers State Government said it had begun investigating the incident and would take appropriate action against anyone found culpable.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Dr Mina Tele Ikuru, condemned any form of forced virginity testing in schools and urged authorities to protect students from degrading, coercive or invasive practices.
The state police spokesperson, ASP Agabe Blessing Kaborlo, promised to make inquiries after being contacted, but had yet to respond as of the time of filing this report.
