This week, Nigerians were greeted with the shocking news that some secondary school students in Ikoyi decided to celebrate their passing out by publicly assaulting and raping their female colleagues in their school and other schools.
Michale Matthew, a woman who intervened when she saw the gangrape underway, shocked social media communities with a chilling account of how she stopped the rampaging boys from raping a group of female students. She identified the offenders as students of Ireti Senior Grammar School and the victims as those of Falomo Senior High School.
Idiat Adebule, the deputy governor of Lagos State, on Friday, May 5, 2017 announced that 4 male students involved in the assault have been arrested and that investigations are underway to identify and apprehend the other boys who took part in the hideous crime.
This information was revealed in a statement signed by Adesegun Ogundeji, the assistant director of public affairs of the Lagos State Ministry of Education.
“Some unruly SS lll students of lreti Senior Grammar School and Falomo Senior High School who were reported to have gone on rampage and harassed fellow students especially the girls after the completion of their West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), have been arrested for their untoward and unguided behaviour,” Ogundeji said.
“According to the deputy governor of Lagos State, Dr. Idiat Oluranti Adebule four (4) of the boys involved are already helping the law enforcement agents in apprehending others who participated in the reckless act.
“She assured the general public that extensive investigation will be conducted and all those found culpable will be made to face the consequences of their indiscretion which bothers on indiscipline and lawlessness.
“Adebule reiterated that the Lagos State government’s vision on economic growth and infrastructural renewal is hinged on education and this explains the huge investment made by government in education sector.
“Thus, in return, students are expected to be of best behaviour and shun all acts of violence and immorality that can undermine the policy of government on discipline being entrenched in schools.
“Her Excellency emphasized that, the state government won’t take kindly to the reckless attitudes of a few that intends to drag the image built over the years in the mud and enjoined parents and guardians to warn their children and wards to mind their actions in and out of the school compound.
“She stressed that discipline must prevail for the smooth running of the schools and acts of recklessness such as reported in the case under investigation is totally unacceptable and would not be tolerated.
“Principals and school heads she directed must continue to institute measures to curb indiscipline in their various schools and warned that anyone caught looking the other way will equally face appropriate disciplinary actions as stipulated in the Public Service Rule.
“The deputy governor in conclusion expressed sincere appreciation to the general public for their genuine concern in the matter and enthused that ‘together we can build a better society’,” the statement ended.
