Ekiti Teachers Protest Police Assault On School Principal, Others

Teachers in Ekiti State have faulted some police officers for allegedly assaulting the principal and some teachers of Mary Immaculate Secondary School, Ado Ekiti due to the school’s decision to discipline for unruly behaviour.

Consequently, the teachers called on the Nigeria Police, especially Ekiti State Police Command, to fish out the police officers led by one Elijah Agnoise and punish them for alleged assault on the principal and his female colleagues.

The Chairman of Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools in Ekiti State, Mr Sola Adigun made this call yesterday at a session with journalists, describing the action of the four police officers as disgusting and unacceptable.

At least, four armed police officers had invaded Mary Immaculate Secondary School, Ado Ekiti, where they allegedly attacked, assaulted and harassed the principal of the school and some female teachers without just cause.

The armed officers had allegedly assaulted the principal and his female colleagues due to the decision of the school management to discipline the daughter of Elijah Agnoise for improper conduct against the rules of the school.

Currently a JSS 1 student, Agnoise’s daughter, Gift Omeizie, reportedly came to school in an unethical hairdo, which according to the school management, breached the standard set for all students irrespective of their classes.

But at the session with journalists yesterday, the ASUSS Chairman disclosed that the case of assault on the principal and his female colleagues had been reported to the Ekiti State Police Command.

Adigun said the union was working with the Ministry of Education and Teaching Service Commission on measures “to end incessant harassment of teachers in Ekiti.”

Meanwhile, the Ekiti State Command of the Nigeria Police Force yesterday responded to the assault allegation against the four police officers with the assurance that the matter would be thoroughly investigated.

In a statement by the command’s spokesperson, Mr Sunday Abutu, the command confirmed that the identities of the police officers had been tracked.

The statement said the police command “is not unaware of a reported case of indiscipline at Mary Immaculate Girls’ School, Ado-Ekiti, where a Police Sergeant allegedly stormed the school alongside four of his colleagues and harassed the teachers simply because his daughter who is one of the students was questioned about the style of her hair-cut which was not in line with the school directive.

“A discreet investigation has commenced as ordered by the Commissioner of Police, Mr Babatunde Mobayo and the officers shall not be spared if found guilty.

“The command is also working tenaciously with the State Ministry of Education to ensure that no stone is left unturned concerning the case, while the police commissioner is appealing to those who were victims of the officers’ misbehaviour to be calm and patient as he shall ensure that the investigation process is not compromised,” the statement said.