The Ogun State Government, through the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, has suspended a teacher alleged to have beaten and punished one Master Monday Arijo, an SS2 student of Obada Grammar School, Obada, Idi-emi, which reportedly led to his demise.
The incident, which happened on Friday, also led to the immediate arrest of the teacher, as the Principal of the school, Mrs. Tamrat Onaolapo was promptly queried for allowing corporal punishment to be used on the pupil against the established rules and regulations in the state.
The principal was given 24 hours to explain her actions and why disciplinary actions should not be taken against her for acting against the instructions of constituted authority.
Subsequently, a letter of condolence was sent to the bereaved family, commiserating with them on the sudden death of their loving son and promising to get justice for the family.
The letter, which was signed by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, described the late learner as an exceptional pupil who would be missed by his colleagues, the school, and the state at large.
It then prayed for requisite strength for the family to bear the irreplaceable loss as well as for the repose of the departed soul.
Arijo reportedly died after a teacher allegedly beat him with 162 strokes of the cane for breaking a dustbin.
An activist identified as Adetoun shared the incident on Instagram on Friday.
According to Adetoun, the teacher had reportedly brought a dustbin to Ariyo’s class with instructions that the students should not break the dustbin.
She narrated that Ariyo had jokingly replied to the teacher that the dustbin was bought with the students’ money, a response which was said to have infuriated the teacher.
The teacher was said to have reported to the principal who instructed that the student be punished.
Acting on the principal’s instruction, the teacher allegedly flogged Arijo with 162 strokes of the cane and in the process, the student fell and collapsed.
Adetoun said further that the teacher and some staffers of the school who were at the scene delayed in taking Arijo to the hospital for medical attention and when they did, he was dead.
A senior police officer privy to the incident but was not authorised to speak with the media confirmed the incident.
He said that the incident created tension in the area but the intervention of the police brought it under control.
“We are on the matter, the incident wanted to create tension but we were able to douse the tension,” the police source
said.
Confirming the incident on Friday, the spokesperson for the Ogun State Police Command, Omolola Odutola, said the student was confirmed dead at the Federal Medical Centre in Abeokuta, the state capital.
She said contrary to reports of being beaten 162 strokes of a cane, Arijo was made to perform 162 frog jumps and was beaten 24 strokes of the cane.
She said, “The incident happened on October 15, 2024. The deceased was asked to do 162 frog jumps and was given 24 strokes of the cane.
“He was rushed to FMC Idi-Aba for medical attention and he died today (October 25).
The deceased body has been deposited at the Ayetoro mortuary for autopsy. An investigation is ongoing.”
