The traditional ruler of Taabaa community in Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State, Mene Nule, has denied carrying out virginity tests on female students of Government Comprehensive High School, Taabaa.
He described the allegation as the work of some people in the community who want to damage his image.
The claim came from the school’s authorities, who wrote to the State Ministry of Education over an alleged plan by the monarch and his team to conduct the tests.
The letter, dated October 12 and signed by the school’s vice-principal, Bieh Gloria, was obtained by our correspondent.
It was titled, “Report Against Invasion, Plan To Take Over Of The School Farm, Damages, Assault And Dehumanisation Of Female Virgin Student Of Government Comprehensive High School, Taabaa By His Royal Highness Mene M.S.K Nule And His Subordinates.”
The letter partly reads, “That for the past seven years, the Royal Highness and his council members have been coming into the school, selecting and collecting data of some of our female students in demand to carry out a virginity test on them for award of scholarship and two 60-leaf exercise books.”
The Ministry of Education has since launched an investigation. In a statement dated October 22, 2026, and signed by its Permanent Secretary, Dr Mina Tele Ikuru, it condemned the reported incident.
The ministry said persons claiming to represent a traditional institution visited the school to offer scholarships and exercise books, and later selected students for testing.
It added that the selection reportedly took place on Thursday, September 17, 2026, and led to objections and a peaceful protest by the students.
According to the ministry, the allegations are serious because they raise concerns about the dignity, privacy and fundamental rights of schoolchildren.
When contacted, the monarch said he was worried that his intentions for his alma mater, and his support for the students, were being misunderstood.
Nule said he has been giving back to the school since 2004, when he was still an undergraduate.
He explained that he introduced a “virginity roll call” in 2020 after hearing reports that some teachers were molesting female students.
“I went to the school with my team, and the teachers always go with us,” he stated.
“We went from class to class and asked those who are virgins to stand up, and it was only one female student who stood up.”
“I advised them to focus on their education and not indulge in early sexual activities. When people want to destroy an innocent and good person, they will go to any lengths and use people that are most favourable to them.”
“That is the school that I attended, Government Comprehensive High School, Taabaa. And that is the place where I come from, and right now I am speaking as a king that was installed in 2012.”
He added, “I have been returning to that school as far back as 2004. I was still in the university when I started supplying that school with chalk from JSS 1 to SS 3, and from 2004 till date, I have never stopped.”
“In 2012, when I became king, I told myself that it could not be only chalk again; I started giving books and school bags.”
“In 2019, when there was all manner of news coming from the school about how the students are abusing themselves, including their lecturers [teachers] abusing the female students, we started our preaching against that act and why students should focus on their studies and remain virgins.”
The monarch said he continues the gesture every year. By 2025, he had identified four students who stood up as virgins and rewarded each with N20,000.
He denied taking any student to a health centre or doctor for a virginity test, insisting that his efforts have helped the students and the school.
Nule said he has never put his own daughter through such a process, let alone someone else’s child, and challenged anyone with proof to come forward.
According to him, “It’s difficult to know people from your first encounter; if not, you should have known me. If anybody can prove that… do I look like a bad man? Have I not done enough that I will carry somebody’s child to go and do a test, for what?”
“I have children. Come to my house now, you will see. I have a daughter, and I have never done that to my daughter. All the things that I use are my voice to talk to her, to counsel her.”
“Then what I will do is to struggle with myself with the little name that I have with people’s children. That is madness.”
Digital Operations Manager at The Students Forum Nigeria.
