POLICE INDICT 17 OYO STUDENTS FOR VANDALIZING N25m SCHOOL PROPERTY

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Oyo State Police Command on Monday indicted 17 out of the 59 students arrested in connection with the vandalism of science laboratory equipment worth over N25 million at the Christ Apostolic Church Grammar School, Oniyere in Ibadan, the state capital.

This was confirmed at a stakeholders meeting which had in attendance the state Commissioner of Police, Johnson Adenola, Special Adviser to the Governor Seyi Makinde on Security Matters, Fatal Owoseni (retd), Commissioner of Education, Salihu Adelabu and host of others at the Eleyele Police headquarters.

Adenola said the affected students invaded the school premises and destroyed the facilities.

He added that out of the 59 students that were arrested, 17 of them have been found culpable of the offences.

He said, “On Thursday, last week, pupils of Government Technical College, Orita Aperin, went on the rampage as they invaded the premises of the CAC Grammar School, Orita-Aperin.

“During the attacks, several vehicles were destroyed while the science laboratories blocks with equipment worth several millions of naira were vandalised.

“Also, some people received machete cuts during the attacks. This, we found quite unacceptable. This situation was brought under control with the support of the local security and the authorities of the affected schools.

“I personally interviewed these children on Saturday, and the revelation was stunning. I was surprised at the level of decadence in the public schools in the state.

“That is why the police authorities summoned the stakeholders meeting to put an end to the gang violence which has become a recurrence incident in the public schools.”

In his address, the Commissioner for Education, Adelabu, decried the growing level of indiscipline in public schools.

Adelabu submitted that the government could no longer condone any act of indiscipline, adding that whoever is found culpable of any misdemeanour would be made to face music.

“The present administration is investing so much in the education sector. It is sad to note that the affected pupils do not appreciate the efforts.

“The parents have role to play in the upbringing of their children. The failure of the parents is what we are witnessing today,” he said.

Also speaking, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, Owoseni, admonished the parents to be aware of their responsibilities.