Tragedy and Chaos at Ilugun High School
A tragic incident occurred at Ilugun High School in Elega, Abeokuta, Ogun State, when violence erupted over alleged illegal fee collection by teachers. One student lost their life, and significant property damage was reported.
The unrest began on a Friday when the school management invited local security operatives, specifically the Amotekun Corps, to disperse students protesting against what they considered illegal fees. The arrival of these security forces caused chaos among the students, who scattered in different directions to avoid being detained.
During the commotion, some students jumped into a nearby river to escape, resulting in the death of one student. According to witnesses, three students entered the river, with two being rescued and one, identified as Babalola, drowning. His body was recovered the following day and buried at the riverbank.
Angered by the incident, students returned to the school on Monday and reportedly went on a rampage. They attacked teachers and vandalized school property. A viral video showed groups of students destroying property in broad daylight, including throwing stones at classroom windows until the glass shattered. In some cases, entire aluminium window frames were removed, leaving classrooms severely damaged.
The Illegal Fee Controversy
In September 2019, Governor Dapo Abiodun announced the suspension of N3,700 levies in all public schools across Ogun State. However, recent weeks have seen criticism of this decision. At a stakeholders’ forum, the governor clarified that his administration did not introduce the fee but inherited it from the previous administration.
According to him, the levy originated from a proposal by the Parents Teachers’ Association (PTA) and was later adopted by the administration of Senator Ibikunle Amosun. He emphasized that suspending the payment was necessary to align with his promise of free, universal, and qualitative education in public primary and secondary schools.
“I have been criticized in the media about the N3,700 PTA fee. I did not introduce the fee. It was proposed by the PTA and accepted by the previous administration. The fee negates the free education policy of this administration. It is like payment through the back door,” he stated.
Abiodun also mentioned that his education team would review the items on the list that prompted the introduction of the levy, while promising to restore running costs to support the daily financial needs of schools.
Despite these efforts, the government has faced challenges in consistently releasing funds for public schools’ running costs. This has led many schools to impose levies on students. At Ilugun High School, for instance, teachers were reported to have charged each student N7,500, which many could not afford, triggering the crisis.
Principals Suspended
The Ogun State Government confirmed the incident but stated only one person died. The Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu, noted that the deceased could not be confirmed as a student of the school.
“However, our preliminary investigations have revealed a very disturbing twist. The young man who lost his life could not be confirmed as a bona fide student of the school. He was identified by three different names – Babalola Ayornide, Salako Jimoh, and Afolabi Babalola. Yet, none of these names appear in our official state education database, which authenticates all school enrolments. This points to the likelihood of an illegal enrolment,” he explained.
Arigbabu also confirmed that teachers of the school had engaged in illegal fee collection, which triggered the protest. He announced the indefinite suspension of the school’s principals – Mrs. Olukoga Adeyemi Alaba (junior school) and Mrs. Ladipo Olabisi Temitope (senior school).
“The suspension was necessary following their roles in the incident. Findings showed that the principal of the junior school was directly involved in the collection of illegal fees, which sparked the students’ protest. In light of these findings, the government has decided to place both the junior and senior principals of Ilugun High School on suspension while we conduct a thorough investigation into the immediate and remote causes of this unfortunate incident.”
He also mentioned the establishment of a WhistleBlowers scheme by the government through the Teaching Service Commission to check illegalities, wrongdoings, and other misconduct.
History of Students Assaulting Teachers
In 2021, a disturbing trend emerged in Ogun State when some secondary school students launched serial assaults on their teachers. This development left many educationists unsettled and fearful.
In November of that year alone, at least three cases were recorded where students hired hoodlums to storm school premises and attack their teachers. In some instances, the students themselves physically assaulted the teachers, sometimes in the company of their parents.
This trend was preceded by violent clashes among students from different schools. In June 2021, for example, students from Baptist Boys’ High School, Saje, and Ilugun High School, Elega, engaged in a violent confrontation that lasted several hours.
Investigations across various secondary schools revealed that cultism, truancy, defiance of school authorities, and other acts of indiscipline had become rampant. Teachers, in their bid to instil discipline, often incurred the wrath of unruly students – and, in some cases, their parents.
At Unity High School, Kajola Ibooro in Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area, three teachers, including a nursing mother, were attacked by miscreants allegedly hired by students. Similarly, at Community High School, Ijoun in Yewa North Local Government, students reportedly hired hoodlums to attack and chase their teachers away.
In response, the state government introduced a measure compelling parents of students in public secondary schools to sign undertakings on behalf of their wards, in an effort to curb unruly behaviour and restore order in schools.
