Matilda Omonaiye/
Parents of students attending the Air Force Secondary School (AFSS) Ikeja have launched a protest after their sons and daughters were allegedly thrashed to within an inch of their lives on the orders of the Commandant of the school last Wednesday.
They specifically complained about their daughters who were given up to 30 strokes on their buttocks, when the Commandant, Group Captain Babatunde Oguntunde, unleashed soldiers on them over alleged indiscipline.
A parent in a statement sent to NewsmakersNG says, “On Wednesday the 22nd of January 2020, during the assembly at Air Force Secondary School (AFSS), Ikeja, the bad behaviour of an SS3 student who tore his result of the previous term due to the poor performance was announced. He was disciplined on the assembly with 12 strokes of the cane. After that, the students from SS2 – SS3 were also accused of indiscipline.
“It was at this point that the Commandant, Group Captain Babatunde Oguntunde, told the students of SS1 – SS3 to kneel so they would be flogged according to their classes. SS1 was flogged 20 strokes, SS2 was flogged 25 strokes, and SS3 was flogged 30 strokes. The students were told to kneel on the floor and bend so they would be flogged on their buttocks. Due to a large number of students, the soldiers lost count and began flogging the students at will, which made some students get more strokes than was allocated to their class.
“A female student fainted and instead of being rushed to the sickbay for First Aid, the Commandant ordered the soldiers to keep flogging her till she regained consciousness. An SS1 student had an asthma attack and she was still flogged.”
The parent further told NewsmakersNG that the students were left with bruises both from the flogging and the Corporal punishment of rolling on the floor.
When contacted, Air Force authorities in Lagos told NewsmakersNG that a committee has been set up to investigate the incident and report back.
The parents expressed fears that corporal punishment can cause serious damage to internal organs and muscles, nerve damage, psychological trauma, and even death as it happened to a sick student who was reportedly flogged to death at a school in Jos and another at Government Day Secondary School Sankalawa in Bungudu Local Government Area of Zamfara State recently.
The Child’s Rights Awareness Creation Organisation (CRACO), in Lagos, has shown interest in the matter.
Nigeria is one of the countries listed by International Organisations where flogging is still legally practised.
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Dear Editor,
I will like to write a rejoinder to this story on behalf of the PTA of the Air Force Secondary School, Ikeja, Lagos.
This is story is very inaccurate and is full of distortions. Your story does not reflect what really took place. As a result of this report in your newspaper and other similar social media reports that were filled with inaccuracy and falsehood, as the Chairman of the PTA and in consultation with the Executive Committee, an emergency PTA meeting was summoned to discuss the issues and agree on the way forward to arrest the drift your report and similar reports were affecting the good image of the school, its leadership and students alike. The meeting held on Wednesday, January 29, 2020. The full issues were discussed by the PTA and at the end of which, a communique was issued to address all the issues raised, decisions reached and the way forward. Th elements of the communique will be posted below for your readers to read through and then decipher the issues themselves.
COMMUNIQUE ISSUED BY THE PARENTS/TEACHERS ASSOCIATION AFTER ITS EMERGENCY MEETING OF WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2020
After an emergency meeting of the PTA of the Air Force Secondary School, Ikeja, Lagos, the following communique has been issued to address the matters that necessitated the emergency meeting.
THE ISSUES AT HAND:
The Chairman, Mr. Ayoola Badejo, presented the issues that brought about the Emergency meeting as follows:
Emerging pattern of gross indiscipline amongst senior students of the school.
Few students showing traits of been members of an emerging cult group called “the Marlians”
The marlians have characteristics that include – a. Must be a drop out of school; b. no use of belts; c. No wearing of pants and bras on specific days of the week; d. No respect to adults or age; amongst others.
Several complaints of excessive canning of students as punishment for misconduct by students.
Publication of distorted facts of the said punishment of students as a result of misconduct on social media and newspapers.
Give opportunity to parents to express their misgivings or otherwise at a properly constituted PTA meeting for group resolution on the way forward.
Any other matter ancillary to these main issues.
COMMUNIQUE:
After exhaustive discussions on the issues listed above, the following communique was issues by the PTA of Air Force Secondary School, Ikeja, Lagos.
The AFSS, Ikeja remains a secondary school of excellence amongst its peers..
The issue of discipline must remain a key element of building up the children and preparing them for their future.
The schools authority must refrain from meting out excessive punishment to students, especially excessive canning to correct misdemeanour and infractions of the rules and the regulations of the school by students.
In the instance of what happened in the school the previous week, it was agreed that the canning were excessive.
It was established that no sick student was canned during the exercise.
Agreed that parents need to pay more attention to their children as the children spend more time with their parents than in school.
The meeting condemned in no certain terms, the parents that sponsored the publication of distorted facts on social media and newspapers of the incident that happened in the school.
The school management were mandated to do everything possible to ensure students do not become members of the marlians group as stated.
Students misbehaviour should be brought to the attention of parents by the school before things get out of hand.
The house commended the Commandant for sponsoring the Commandant’s examinations in English and mathematics for the examination classes at his own expense.
The house agreed that, the Commandant is the father of all the students in the school.
Parents who sponsored the postings on social media, were enjoined to go back to undo what they have already done, ie to restore the image of the school.
Parents agreed to pay more attention to their children, as it takes two to tango and train up these children.
The Commandant apologised to the parents and gave assurance that, such will not happen again.
The school’s counselling unit should be more involved in helping the children turn a new leaf.
It was noted that, the students at a meeting they initiated with the Commandant, apologised to the Commandant for their misbehaviour and thus reconciled with the Commandant.
The meeting also agreed that, parents should deploy all internal channels to resolve any issue that may arise in the future rather than run to the press and destructive.
The house appreciated the turn-out of members, as one the largest attended meeting in recent times.
Thank you very much and God bless.
Signed Signed
ONOH CELINE AYOOLA BADEJO
Secretary Chairman