Tension is rising in Abeokuta, the capital of Ogun, following the death of a student, identified as Ariyo Monday, after receiving 164 strokes of a cane from a teacher.
It was gathered that Ariyo was flogged mercilessly by a teacher in Obada Grammar School for allegedly joking with the teacher about a waste bin that was brought to the classroom hours earlier.
A social media activist, Just Adetoun, said, “The boy was killed just about one hour ago for jokingly telling a teacher that the wastebin that was just brought into the classroom was bought with students’ money”.
Adetoun, in a viral Instagram post on Friday afternoon, said the boy’s comical response to the teacher was reported to the principal of the school, Mrs Onalapo, who ordered that he should be disciplined.
“The teacher went ahead to give this student 164 strokes of the cane. During the torture, the boy collapsed and hit his head on the floor.”
She said the boy was abandoned on the floor until it was noticed that he was not responding before he was rushed to the hospital.
Although the spokesperson of Ogun State Police Command, Omolola Odutola, could not be reached for comment, Adetoun disclosed that the matter had been reported to the state police command.
She alleged that a high-ranking official of the state government had given a directive for the immediate burial of the victim, less than an hour after he died.
Adetoun, who said she had communicated the incident to other government officials, including a commissioner and permanent secretary, warned that the victim should not be hurriedly buried, while the culprit(s) must be brought to justice.
