Cyberbullying and Digital Evidence in Secondary Schools: A Forensic Perspective from Delta State

Cyberbullying has emerged as a pervasive social problem within Nigerian secondary school communities, generating digital evidence trails that carry forensic investigative potential for school disciplinary and legal proceedings. This study examines cyberbullying incidents and the forensic analysis of associated digital evidence in secondary schools in Delta State between 2021 and 2024. A descriptive mixed-methods design was employed, combining questionnaires administered to 200 students across twelve schools with semi-structured interviews with ten school counsellors and four digital forensic examiners. The study evaluates the nature and frequency of cyberbullying, the digital platforms involved, and the processes by which evidence is collected and used in disciplinary or legal action. Findings indicate that WhatsApp, Instagram, and TikTok are the primary platforms for cyberbullying activities, with screenshot and screen recording evidence constituting the most commonly submitted digital proof. Formal digital forensic examination was initiated in fewer than fifteen percent of reported cases, and school authorities demonstrated limited familiarity with evidence preservation procedures. Recommendations include the development of a cyberbullying digital evidence protocol for secondary schools in South South Nigeria, training of guidance counsellors in basic digital evidence preservation, and the enactment of a specific cyberbullying provision within the Cybercrimes Act. Keywords: cyberbullying, digital evidence, secondary schools, Delta State, social media.