The Management of Government Comprehensive High School (GCHS) Taabaa, in Nyo-Khana District, Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State, has raised the alarm over alleged invasion of its premises, destruction of school farm produce, threats against staff and what it describes as attempts to subject female students to virginity testing.
In a petition dated October 12, 2026, and addressed to the relevant authorities, the Vice Principal of GCHS, Taabaa, Bieh Gloria, alleged that the Paramount Ruler of the community, His Royal Highness Mene M.S.K. Nule and some persons associated with him had repeatedly interfered in the school’s activities. The petition, signed by Gloria on behalf of the school’s staff, called on the Rivers State Ministry of Education and the school boards to intervene urgently to prevent further escalation of the situation.
According to the petition, the alleged controversy dates back seven years, during which the traditional ruler and members of his council were said to have visited the school, selected female students and collected their details for purported virginity testing linked to scholarship awards and the provision of exercise books. The school authorities, however, alleged that the students selected in previous years did not receive the promised scholarships, raising questions about the purpose of the exercise.
The petition further alleged that on September 17, 2026, during the second week of resumption, for the 2026/2027 academic session, the monarch and members of his group visited the school and selected 16 female students for the proposed virginity tests. The development reportedly triggered objections from some of the students, who subsequently informed their parents.
According to the report, school staff who allegedly sought clarification over the exercise also claimed to have faced threats, including threats of dismissal and assassination. The petition added that students had staged a peaceful protest against the alleged activities, expressing their opposition to what the school described as an infringement on their rights and dignity.
Beyond the allegations concerning the virginity testing on female students, the school authorities also accused the traditional ruler and his associates of attempting to take over the school’s farmland and share it among themselves. The petition alleged that on October 8, 2026, three individuals identified as Pyagbara Prosper Neeuwe, Lekpa Barilunanee Donald and Promise Kabaari were allegedly delegated to the school.
The school maintained that it was a distinct institution established under the law and that any attempt to seize its property or disrupt its operations could undermine discipline and the rule of law. The staff however called for the intervention of the state government to safeguard the school’s farmland, protect students from any alleged coercive practices and ensure the safety of teachers who claimed to have received threats.
Meanwhile in his response, Chief Nule denied the allegations and described it as baseless, unfounded and the handiwork of mischief makers who are out to tarnish his hard earned reputation.
Nule explain that as a way of giving back to the the society, he has been donating educational materials such as chalks, pens, pencils, rulers and exercise books to students of the school as far back as 2004 when he was in the university. He added that he also gave some items for refreshments to the school teachers after they helped with the distribution of the educational materials.
The monarch however explained that he started the virginity roll call in 2020 after he got a report that some teachers of the school were molesting female students, noting that he went to the school with his team and asked those who were virgins to stand up, and only one female student stood up.
According to him, out of compassion, he spoke to them on the need to focus on their education and not indulge in early sexual activities. He said he continued the gesture annually and that by 2025, he got four students who stood up as virgins, and that he rewarded the students with twenty thousand naira (₦20,000) each.
Chief Nule said by the 2026 edition of the programme, he got 17 virgins. The Highness denied taking the students to a health centre for virginity testing, adding that his activity was to advise the students against immorality and to help the school attain some level of decency.
