A Vice Principal of a private secondary school in Akure has been brutally attacked by suspected thugs, allegedly hired by the mother of a student after he stopped her child from cheating during the ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
The victim, Mr. Rotifa, Vice Principal of Complete Child Development College, Aule, Akure, had seized an Android phone from a Senior Secondary 3 (SS3) student, Wisdom Elisa, during an examination session. The action, which was aimed at preventing exam malpractice, reportedly angered the student’s mother.
A teacher at the school, who asked not to be named, said the incident took a dangerous turn when the woman stormed the school and threatened the staff. “She said she would kill anyone who stops her child from cheating in the upcoming mathematics paper,” the teacher said.
After the phone was forcefully returned to the parent, the situation escalated further. According to the Ondo State Ministry of Education, the student’s brother, a former student of the school, later returned with some boys to harass and threaten Mr. Rotifa.
Things turned violent after school hours when the Vice Principal, while returning from the police station where he had gone to report the threats, was ambushed. The attackers, reportedly waiting on the street, stopped the police vehicle, dragged out Mr. Rotifa, and beat him severely.
He was rushed to St. John and Mary Hospital in Odokoyi, where he received treatment. Though now discharged, Mr. Rotifa has not returned home out of fear for his safety.
The Ondo State Government, through the Director of Schools in the Ministry of Education, condemned the attack and assured that measures are being put in place to protect teachers and students as the WASSCE continues.
“This is unacceptable. We are working closely with security agencies to ensure the safety of everyone involved in the exam and to bring those responsible to justice,” the Ministry stated.
The incident has sparked outrage in Akure, with calls for the arrest of all those involved and stronger security for school officials during national examinations.
