Escalating school violence in Ogbomoso: Soun convenes high stake stakeholders’ meeting

Escalating school violence in Ogbomoso: Soun convenes high stake stakeholders’ meeting

Niyi AJALA

His Imperial Majesty, Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye Orumogege III, the Soun of Ogbomosoland, has convened an all-encompassing stakeholders’ meeting involving security agencies, education authorities, school administrators and community leaders to address growing cases of school violence, truancy, drug abuse, cultism and hooliganism in Ogbomoso.

The meeting, which focused on maintaining peaceful coexistence among schools in the Ogbomoso Educational Zones, was aimed at finding practical and sustainable measures to restore discipline, protect students and teachers and ensure a peaceful learning environment across the town.

The gathering brought together representatives of the Nigerian Police Force, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Amotekun Corps, education authorities, traditional institutions, school administrators, teachers, parents and community leaders.

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The meeting was held under the theme, “Curbing Drug, Cultism and Violence – Recording, Rehabilitating and Restoring Our Schools.”

School violence now a community concern

During the meeting, representatives of security agencies and community stakeholders expressed concern that student violence and unrest had gone beyond the school environment and had become a wider public safety issue for Ogbomoso.

Issues raised included inter-school reprisal attacks, bullying of junior students, destruction of school property, threats to teachers, truancy and the activities of former students and out-of-school youths around school premises after closing hours.

Another major concern raised was the involvement of minors in some of the incidents, which makes formal prosecution under conventional criminal justice procedures more difficult.

The Soun, while addressing the challenge, stressed the need for firm disciplinary measures to deter students from engaging in acts of lawlessness where conventional prosecution is restricted by their age.

Security experts at the meeting also advised that surveillance and intelligence gathering should begin from the primary school level in order to identify behavioural problems early before they develop into organised hooliganism.

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They further urged security agencies to pay particular attention to identified trouble spots around schools.

Soun links school security with economic development

The Permanent Secretaries of the Ogbomoso Educational Zones, Rev. Dr. Dele Oyedokun, Adisa B.O.A. and Dr. (Mrs.) Adebola Ayegboyin, in their presentation at the summit, hailed the economic drive of the Soun towards transforming the community but lamented the growing menace constituted by unruly students, capable of being a deterrent factor.

“Kabiyesi has made growing Ogbomoso town economy a cardinal agenda. He has told us that a town without investment cannot employ its youths. In line with Kabiyesi’s vision, we in the educational zone and as sons and daughters of Ogbomoso have keyed into this vision by encouraging our friends and investors to come and invest in our town economy.”

Expatiating they cited a practical example regarding Vanguard Pharmacy (a new outlet). They disclosed the CEO of the super mart listened to their plea and is now fully established in Ogbomoso with a staff strength of over 50 of our own children, and whom we are encouraging to expand further to create more jobs for our people.

According to them Chief Executive Officer of Vanguard Pharmacy however raised concerns over the activities of miscreants around his business premises, particularly around school closing hours.

The education authorities said some of those involved were secondary school students and out-of-school youths who allegedly harassed customers and staff.

They noted that continued harassment of customers could discourage patronage and ultimately affect the expansion of businesses and investment in Ogbomoso.

The matter was consequently brought to the attention of the Palace, saying it was part of the reason the meeting was convened while noting that the Soun’s intervention came at a critical time, just as it was stressed that school violence was no longer only an educational concern but had implications for the economic development of Ogbomoso.

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The Permanent Secretaries therefore commended the Soun for recognising the connection between school security, investment and the wider economic development of the town.

They said the situation demonstrated that creating a safe environment for schools was also necessary for creating a safe environment for businesses and investors.

Drug abuse, cultism blamed for growing unrest

The education authorities also identified drug abuse and cultism as major factors contributing to the growing unrest in schools.

According to them, reports from guidance counsellors, local inspectors of education and security agencies indicated that substances including Indian hemp, Colorado, Loud, Tramadol and Codeine were finding their way into the school environment.

“Substances such as Indian hemp, Colorado, Loud, Tramadol and Codeine are finding their way into the school environment. And small groups operating like cults are recruiting our children, mostly in JSS3, SS1 and SS2, deceiving them with false promises of power and protection.

“Your Majesty, we in the education sector are ready to collaborate with all the stakeholders and seek the support of this gathering to bring sanity to our communities and town generally.”

They further expressed concern over the alleged recruitment of students, particularly those in JSS3, SS1 and SS2, into groups operating like cults and offering them false promises of power and protection.

The education authorities stressed that the challenge required the combined efforts of the government, schools, parents, traditional institutions, security agencies, religious bodies and the wider community.

Education authorities propose 3-R strategy

To address the situation, the education authorities proposed a three-pronged strategy known as the 3-R Directive: Record, Rehabilitate and Restore.

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Under the Record component, public and private schools are expected to establish Confidential School Safety and Behaviour Registers for documenting incidents involving students.

The proposed records would contain details such as the student’s class, nature of the offence, date and witnesses, with the aim of identifying patterns and helping authorities respond to emerging problems.

The education authorities stressed that the system should not be used to stigmatise children but to protect the innocent majority and ensure that serious behavioural problems are not covered up.

Under the Rehabilitate component, the ministry proposed the establishment of an Ogbomoso Schools Rehabilitation Desk in partnership with the NDLEA, Ministry of Health and relevant health institutions.

Students involved in drug abuse would be offered counselling and medical rehabilitation with parental involvement, while students willing to renounce cult-related activities could undergo mentorship, counselling and community service.

The third component, Restore, focuses on rebuilding peaceful coexistence and creating structures capable of sustaining discipline and security within schools.

Stakeholders demand action against arms suppliers

The stakeholders also called for immediate investigation into individuals and syndicates suspected of supplying weapons, dangerous tools and illegal arms to secondary school students.

They stressed that efforts to curb school violence should not stop at the students found in possession of dangerous weapons, but should also target those who make such weapons available to them.

Security agencies were urged to strengthen intelligence gathering around schools and ensure that those found culpable are dealt with in accordance with the law.

Proposed rapid response system

The education authorities proposed the establishment of Cluster School Safety Marshals covering groups of three to four neighbouring schools.

They also proposed a rapid response communication system linking school principals directly with Divisional Police Officers and Amotekun commanders whenever violence is imminent.

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School administrators were urged to strengthen supervision during free periods and after school hours, while parents were encouraged to work closely with teachers and monitor their children’s behaviour, friendships and activities.

The education authorities also called for the revival of Peace Clubs, Literary and Debating Societies and inter-school sporting activities as constructive alternatives through which students could develop their talents and build healthy relationships.

Traditional rulers, religious bodies urged to intervene

Traditional rulers and community leaders were urged to assist in calling out-of-school youths involved in recruiting students into criminal activities to order.

Community vigilance groups were also encouraged to support the security of school routes, particularly during afternoon hours.

Religious organisations were called upon to intensify moral education and regularly address young people on the dangers of drug abuse, cultism and violence.

The education authorities also appealed to parents not to undermine school discipline by confronting teachers or mobilising individuals against school authorities whenever disciplinary measures are taken against their children.

Students urged to reject drugs, cultism

The meeting also addressed students directly, urging them to reject drugs, cultism and violent associations.

The education authorities advised students to report threats or attempts to recruit them into criminal groups through confidential channels available in their schools.

They also proposed the establishment and strengthening of Peace Ambassadors Clubs to promote responsible citizenship and peaceful coexistence among students.

Early surveillance & targeted focus of trouble spots

Security experts and speakers advised that intelligence gathering and security surveillance must be extended down to primary schools to address misbehavior early before it matures into organized hooliganism. Furthermore, security forces were urged to concentrate operations on identified “trouble spot” schools.

Crack down on arms suppliers

The stakeholders strongly called for immediate investigation and prosecution of individuals or syndicates supplying weapons, dangerous tools, and illegal arms to secondary school students.

Soun’s educational vision commended

The Permanent Secretaries of the Ogbomoso Educational Zones commended the Soun for making education a major component of his administration’s vision for Ogbomoso.

They recalled the Palace’s engagement with the education sector through education summits, scholarships and discussions on possible partnerships with schools.

They also commended the Soun’s broader vision for the economic development of Ogbomoso, stressing that the security of schools and communities was necessary to attract and retain investors.

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The education authorities described the Soun as a defender of Ogbomoso’s cultural values, noting that respect for elders, hard work and discipline were central to the Omoluabi values of the people.

They stressed that drug abuse and cultism were inconsistent with those values.

Stakeholders pledge to restore peace in schools

The education authorities pledged that incidents would no longer be covered up in an attempt to protect the reputation of schools.

They also pledged to work with security agencies, parents, traditional rulers, religious organisations and community leaders to identify, rehabilitate and restore students whose behaviour could still be corrected.

The stakeholders reaffirmed that the responsibility for securing schools and protecting young people could not be left to the Ministry of Education or security agencies alone.

They called for sustained collaboration among all stakeholders to ensure that schools in Ogbomoso once again become safe havens for learning.

The meeting ended with a renewed commitment to “Record, Rehabilitate and Restore”, with stakeholders stressing that peaceful schools, quality education and responsible youths were essential to the educational, economic and cultural future of Ogbomosoland.