JUST IN: Vice principal, 2 teachers, 1 guard arrested in Ogbomoso school over community fracas
Khalid ABRAHAM
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A conflict between students of a secondary school in Ogbomoso, Oyo state, Areago Community High School, and residents of its neighbourhood has led to the arrest and detention of four staff of the school.
The staff including a vice principal (administration), Mr. Ajayi; two senior teachers, Mr. Oladeji and Mr. Adekunle; and a day guard were as at the time of filing this report still being detained at the Owode Divisional Police Station, Ogbomoso.
According to investigations by ogbomosoinsightonline.com, trouble started Thursday following an altercation between some students of the school and some women residents in the neighbourhood who attempted to pass through the school premises on commercial motorcycle but were prevented by students because the parent-teacher association (PTA) of the school had embarked on erection of perimeter fence.
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“The school PTA started construction of perimeter fence to safeguard the school compound,” a teacher of the school who spoke on condition of anonymity told ogbomosoinsightonline.com at the police station Friday evening. “The construction of the fence became imperative because the school has become porous that a lot of untoward things are daily recorded.
“When we come to school in the morning, classrooms and offices would be found to have been broken into. They would defecate there, cigarettes butts and all sorts of alcohol sachets would litter classrooms. We were given VIP toilet by government but they vandalized everything, sliding windows, electrical wires and fittings were carted away.
“As a result of all these the PTA decided to employ day and night guards. And recently the PTA started the fence construction. It must also be stated that the school had been turned into a thoroughfare. During school hours, you see okadas and vehicles driving recklessly through the school premises endangering the lives of students and teachers.
“For those reasons the PTA decided to erect perimeter fence. And the work started in earnest. On Thursday while bricklayers were busy with the construction this okada came with three women but students were at the pathway and so disallowed them passage telling them it’s not a road which infuriated the women.
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“They tried another route which would also take them through the school premises but there they met some teachers too; they were monitoring the project. And so frustrated the intruders started hurling abuses at the teachers. However, the teachers exercised restraint and did not respond. But there were some students nearby who unable to stomach the insults to their teachers any longer cautioned the women and that is what led to the fracas.
“Our VPs and teachers intervened quickly to prevent it deteriorating but when students were going home in the afternoon some people in the area attacked the students making them to run back to the school. That escalated the crisis as some touts from the neighborhood invaded the school and started throwing stoned at us. The principal was away from the school while this was going on, he went to attend a meeting. He came after closing and met the situation on ground. One of the women now claimed to be pregnant and that she was injured.
“Despite no sign of injuries the principal directed a teacher to take her to Bowen University Teaching Hospital for medical examination and she was certified okay. The principal also sent teachers to check on her this morning. But later the husband came with policemen to the school.
“But by that time, the principal and some staff were setting also to go out to make a formal report at the TESCOM, Ministry of Education zonal office and at the police station. When the principal and the staff later arrived at the police station the detention of the VP and two other teachers was effected while the guard was also invited and was likewise detained. They were alleged of precipitating the clashes and of incitement of students.”
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However, efforts to speak with some residents of the area (at the police station) were rebuffed by them. The husband of the”pregnant woman,” who was the complainant also refused to talk. “I have no comment for now. I will see you later,” he said. This is as a source claimed that the woman said she was “severely beaten” by staff and students during the fracas.
Meanwhile, it’s further learnt that residents of the area are vehemently opposed to the putting up of the perimeter fence “because they see it as à move that would encumber their movement and thus make them drive or trek longer distances to reach the main road or their homes while coming from the town.
In the meantime it’s learnt that the detained teachers would be released on bail with the hope that the matter would be resolved amicably between the parties. Failure to achieve that will lead to prosecution.
