The Nigerian police in Lagos have summoned a mother, Mary Udoka, after she recorded a viral video condemning a nursery school English textbook for what she described as violent content with no moral significance.
Mrs. Udoka, a mother of two, questioned the acceptability of a paragraph in Ebhohimen Ayengbe’s book, English Language Foundation for Nursery School. She asked whether educators should teach such content to children under the age of five.
Her video drew widespread attention, especially over a story titled “The Old Man and the Dog.” She explained that her concerns came directly from what she read in the book. 
“I read something from this book that did not sit well with me, and I came out to the public to share my opinion,” she stated.
The passage she referenced narrates how an old man punished a dog by inserting a heated iron into its nose after the dog failed to guard a piece of meat.
Mrs. Udoka said in a follow-up video that she deleted her initial post after she received threats and frequent calls.
“Good day, Nigerians. At this point, people have started threatening my life. Police officers have taken people around me for questioning because of the video I made about this book,” she explained.
Author’s Response to Mrs. Udoka’s Complaint
Mr. Ayengbe responded to the criticism where he described the claims as deceptive and unfair.
“Everybody keeps listening to the lies the lady tells the world, and I am here. Nobody has asked me anything,” he said.
He criticised Mrs. Udoka for taking the matter to social media instead of contacting him directly.
“My number is in the book. My address is in the book. E-mail is in the book… She went straight to social media and discredited the book,” he stated.
Mr. Ayengbe insisted that the passage contains no wrongdoing and described it as a simplified folk story for children written in simple vocabulary.
“As I sit here, I will still tell you that nothing is wrong with what I wrote… This issue comes down to differences in opinion,” he said, adding that the book has circulated for years.
“It is not a criminal book,” he added.
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Mrs. Udoka’s Lawyer Inebehe Effiong Addresses the Public
Her lawyer, Inebehe Effiong, confirmed that the Zone 2 Police Command in Onikan, Lagos, invited her.
“Following the invitation and harassment of our client, Mrs. Udoka Mary Queen, by the Zone 2 Police Command, Onikan, Lagos, we will visit the police command today, Thursday, 30th April 2026,” he said.
Mr. Effiong added that the author of the textbook, whom he accused of instigating the police against their client, must justify his actions. He also expressed hope that officers would respect her rights and handle the matter professionally.
Petitions to Lagos Government and NERDC
Mr. Effiong stated in another Instagram post that he submitted formal petitions to the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) and the Lagos State Government, requesting an immediate evaluation of the book.
“We wish to confirm in the public interest, and for transparency, that we have formally petitioned the Lagos State Government through the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education against the use of the controversial textbook,” he stated.
He explained that he submitted the petitions on behalf of Mrs. Udoka and her husband, who bought the book for their five-year-old child from a school in Ojo, Lagos.
Lagos State Government Responds
The Lagos State Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education has started an investigation after a viral video showed alleged inappropriate content in an English textbook used by nursery pupils. The Commissioner, Mr. Jamiu Tolani Alli-Balogun, ordered the probe immediately after the video surfaced online.
The Ministry confirmed that the textbook does not appear on the list of approved or recommended books for use in Lagos State schools, both public and private. It also stated that the school in the video operates in Ojo Local Government Area.
Officials stressed that schools must use only government-approved books to maintain proper moral and academic standards. The government reassured parents that it is addressing the situation and remains committed to providing safe and suitable learning materials for all pupils.
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