A disturbing video showing students from two Ibadan secondary schools engaging in violent clashes has sparked widespread concern, reopening conversations about long-standing inter-school rivalries, safety lapses, and parental responsibility in Oyo State.
The footage, first posted on Tuesday morning by the X, quickly went viral. The caption read:
“Public secondary school students from Olubi Memorial Grammar School, Community High School and Ibadan Grammar caught on camera fighting. The government needs to do something fast!!!”
The video shows dozens of students, some actively fighting, others standing as onlookers gathered around a drainage area filled with dark, stagnant water and sand. Students in white shirts and light-brown shorts, identified as those from Ibadan Grammar School, are seen throwing stones and advancing toward another group wearing light-pink shirts and shorts, believed to be from Olubi Memorial Grammar School.
Some students wade through the murky drainage, while others gather on the banks, shouting and cheering. A few individuals in home attire, not identified as students, appear to join the scuffle, adding to the confusion.
Though the clash appears to be between the two neighbouring schools, the presence of multiple uniform types suggests that young people from nearby schools or communities may also have joined the altercation.
As the video spread, it reopened old memories for many residents who once attended the schools. Their reaction, nostalgic, frustrated, and fearful paint a deeper picture of a rivalry that has simmered for decades.
“Omo this things still dey happen. I remember Ansarudeen and St. kids of those days, every school gets popular thugs that lead.”
Another user, Salaam Olarewaju, traced the conflict back nearly 30 years:
“I remember Olubi Memorial Grammar School, all part of our school Ibadan Grammar, before Olubi was chased away because of a fight… I think 1997/1998. IGS later fenced them out by the then principal, Mr Oke.”
A user, Fearless compared the two schools to rival communities:
“Olubi in Ibadan Grammar School is like Modakeke in Ife. They are tenants and should always respect their landlord. This fight has been on since the ’90s.”
For Ogbeni Adebayo, the video was a reminder of an unfortunate tradition:
“This nonsense has been happening since I was in secondary school… I thought the new generation would be better than us. This rubbish used to happen every Friday closing hour.”
While some commenters pointed to government intervention, others directed blame towards the home front.
Bimbo Rotimi wrote:
“Where are the parents?? I don’t think it is the government, but parents.”
Another user, Atewolabala11, echoed the sentiment:
“We blame a lot on the government. The government should close the schools or what? Blame the parents who raised nonentities.”
Though inter-school rivalries are not new in Ibadan, the scale and intensity captured in the video, paired with the ease of viral amplification have renewed calls for urgent intervention.
Child psychologists warn that violent subcultures between neighbouring schools can entrench bullying, normalise aggression, and place students at risk of physical harm. Education experts say untreated rivalry, if left unchecked, can evolve into gang-style violence with long-term implications for school safety.
Residents who grew up around the schools say clashes like this used to erupt during closing hours or sports days. But the prevalence of social media now exposes more incidents and increases pressure on authorities to respond.
As of press time, the Oyo State Ministry of Education and school authorities have not issued an official statement. However, many residents are urging a holistic approach: conflict mediation, stronger supervision during closing hours, engaging parents, and reinforcing discipline structures.
For now, the viral clip has forced Ibadan to confront a troubling question:
If a fight that began in the ’90s still continues in 2025, what will it take to finally break the cycle?
