Metro

Mother Protests As Lagos Principal Brutalises 14-year-old Pupil

Published

2 years ago

May 29, 2023

The mother of a Senior Secondary School student, Mrs Becky Folorunso, has cried out for justice after the Principal of Pholex Private School, Ebute-Meta in Lagos, allegedly brutalised her son for not writing class notes.

In an interview with PUNCH Metro on Friday, Folorunso said that was not the first time her son, Adam, would be flogged in such manner by the principal, Adewale Adetona.

Bruises suspected to be from whips could be seen on the boy’s back from pictures made available to our correspondent.

The troubled mother said while she had scolded her son and warned him to be writing his class notes, beating her child to that extent was uncalled for.

She called on relevant authorities of the Lagos State Government, particularly the State Universal Basic Education Board to intervene in the matter.

Folorunso said, “He is a playful son, but he is not a bad boy. He came home a few days ago and told me ‘Mummy, this beating is too much.’ He showed me his back and I saw bruises. But not like this very one. He said it was because he did not write one note. I scolded him and warned him to always write his notes.

“But when he came home on Thursday, May 25, he cried, ‘Mummy, I can’t take this any longer.’ When he removed his uniform and showed me his back, I was shocked and asked what happened to him. He said it was because he did not complete his Social Studies notes.”

She said her son told the principal to check well, but he wouldn’t listen to him. She said the principal began flogging the boy. “I heard he (the principal) said he knew me, but knowing me doesn’t mean he should kill my child,” the mother said.

Continuing, Folorunso recalled that she had been planning to withdraw the boy from the school following tales of alleged inhuman treatment being meted out to students before the incident.

“I didn’t know about all these stories before we registered him. How can they be running a private learning environment as if it is a public school where things like this go unpunished?” she queried.

When contacted, the school principal, Adetona, said he did not beat the child unjustly.

Speaking with The PUNCH correspondent via a phone call on Friday, he said he was checking all the students’ notes to know some of them who were not writing up to date.

Adetona said, “I am a parent, I don’t beat unjustly. I know the mother very well. I noticed the boy doesn’t have a note at all. I just resumed the office (in the school) not quite long (ago). I’m searching their entire notes one after the other to know those that are not doing well. Several complaints (have) come from teachers and several warnings asking the boy to change.

“I had to beat him yesterday (Thursday). I have been warning them for over two weeks to go and update their notes.”

He said the last time the boy brought his school fees, he was the one that gave him N500 to go and pay through the Point of Sale machine so that he would not lose the money while trying to go to the bank. “I would not beat him unjustly,” he reiterated.

On his part, the school’s proprietor, Mr Foluso Akomolafe, condemned the beating of the student and apologised to the mother.

He said although the boy was not writing notes, there were other means to discipline a student.

“He (the principal) warned him (the student) that he shouldn’t do that again, that he must make sure he copies notes,” Akomolafe added, saying the school fee paid by the parents was like a waste if the student was not writing notes.

“I blamed the principal. As much as you are trying to correct the boy, you should always take it easy with them, they are children. Whatever corrective measures you want to put in place, you shouldn’t be flogging,” the proprietor told The PUNCH.

Suggesting other ways to discipline a student, he said the student could be punished or suspended instead of flogging such a child.

“What the boy did was bad but then he could be asked to kneel or invite the parent. He was sorry about it and apologised to the mother.

“The school does not permit flogging because the Lagos State Government does not want us to flog any child, no matter the offence. We don’t support flogging. He (the principal) is a new person and had barely spent a month or two with us,” he added.

Metro

Human Trafficking: Police Rescue 40 Ghanaians, Arrest Three In Ondo

Published

17 hours ago

July 5, 2025

Editor

The Ondo State Police Command says it has successfully rescued one David Angerinya, and 39 other Ghanaian nationals allegedly trafficked into Nigeria under false pretences.

This is contained in a statement signed and made available to newsmen on Saturday in Akure by the command’s spokesperson, DSP Olushola Ayanlade.

Ayanlade said that the victims were rescued through the operatives of Tactical Intelligence Response Squad (TIRS), Akure, while three suspects were arrested.

He said the operation followed a formal petition forwarded through the Interpol Liaison Office, Force Headquarters Abuja, requesting urgent police intervention over a case of transnational human trafficking involving a Ghanaian citizen.

The spokesperson explained that the victim, David Angerinya, was allegedly lured to Nigeria in 2024 with the promise of employment by an unidentified associate.

“Acting swiftly on the report, detectives from the TIRS, led by DSP Lekan Alabi, commenced a targeted investigation

“Subsequently, three principal suspects identified as Hayford Nyamekye, Awine Alex and Kojo Felix were apprehended, while the victim was successfully rescued during the operation.

“Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects are part of a larger transnational trafficking syndicate that specialise in deceiving unsuspecting individuals, particularly from neighboring West African countries.

“The victims travelled to Nigeria with false assurances of lucrative job opportunities and visa arrangements to Canada and other Western nations,” he said.

Ayanlade also explained that “39 other Ghanaian nationals were discovered to have fallen victim to the same network.”

According to him, many of them were found without valid travel documents, while those who had, presented expired ones.

“All arrested suspects are currently in police custody and are cooperating with ongoing investigations.

“Furthermore, efforts are ongoing to apprehend the owners and caretakers of the buildings where the victims were harboured.

“The building owners and caretakers may have had knowledge of, or directly facilitated the illegal activities of the syndicate.

“The Commissioner of Police (CP), Mr Adebowale Lawal, has reiterated the unwavering commitment of the command to combating human trafficking and all forms of transnational organised crime.

“The CP urges members of the public to remain vigilant and report all suspicious movements or activities to the nearest police station or through the command’s emergency contact lines,” Ayanlade said.

(NAN)

Metro

Fuel Station Manager, Three Others Arrested For Robbery

Published

17 hours ago

July 5, 2025

Editor

The Lagos Police Command has arrested four suspects, including the manager of a fuel station, for allegedly being part of a gang of armed robbers terrorising some areas in the state.

A police source told The PUNCH that the suspects, identified as Noble Saint Neokoro (44) Batomie Samson (48) Abubakar Ali (47) and Bitrus Ibrahim (42) were apprehended in the Ejigbo area of the state.

The source added that their arrest followed a tip-off and discreet investigation by the police.

“The manager of the filling station is among the arrested suspects, while the owner of the station is said to be unaware of the alleged criminal activities. The suspects have allegedly confessed to being a gang of armed robbers,” the source disclosed.

When contacted, the command spokesperson, Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the development.

He said, “The operation was carried out by the Tactical Squad Hawk of the command. Four suspects were arrested including a fuel station manager. The owner of the fuel station denied knowledge of their activities. NUPENG also played a vital role in apprehending the manager.”

Hundeyin, however, added that the operation was a follow-up to the arrest of a notorious gang specialised in hijacking fuel and goods trucks in the state.

The command on June 28 confirmed that seven suspects were nabbed while a fuel tanker loaded with stolen Premium Motor Spirit was recovered.

The driver of the hijacked tanker was said to have reported the incident at the Surulere Police Division.

“Swift police response and discreet investigation led to the recovery of the tanker, which was found empty at Orile, and the arrest of the suspects at a filling station in Ejigbo, where the stolen fuel was being offloaded.

“The suspects, identified as Izuchukwu Nwanoruo, Kayode Falodun, Ojo Ayodele, Ayomide Thompson, Ahmed Saliu, Igbalaye Kareem, and Babatunde Ahmed, are currently assisting the police with ongoing investigations. A fuel tanker used to transport the stolen fuel has also been recovered as an exhibit,” a statement by Hundeyin read.

The police image maker added that the state Commissioner of Police, Olohundare Jimoh, commended the operatives for their diligence and assured Lagosians of the command’s commitment to ensuring safety of lives and property.

“He encouraged citizens to continue providing timely information to aid police efforts in maintaining security across the state. The suspects will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations,” the statement added.
(PUNCH)

Metro

Police Arrest Cleric Over Alleged Defilement Of Underage Girl In Osun

Published

17 hours ago

July 5, 2025

Editor

Osun State Police Command on Saturday confirmed the arrest of an Islamic cleric, identified simply as Kadiri, for allegedly having carnal knowledge of a minor in Ede, Osun State.

The incident that occurred at Babasanya-Araka Ede led to a protest by an angry mob, who had attacked the suspect after he was seized.

The command spokesperson, Abiodun Ojelabi, while speaking with The PUNCH, said police operatives were deployed to the scene after the matter was reported.

“The matter was reported, and we deployed operatives to the scene. When our men got to the scene, the Amotekun men who arrested him handed him over to us.

“So, he is in our custody already. But we want the Division to investigate before the matter is transferred to SCID.

“That is all that is available for now,” Ojelabi said.

Amotekun spokesperson, Idowu Yusuf, while giving more information about the incident, said, “The suspect is an Imam of a mosque.

“He also has an Arabic school in the area where he is teaching students Arabic. Further investigation is being done by the police.”

On how the suspect was arrested, a resident of Babasanya-Araka, who spoke on a condition of anonymity, said the victim was discovered bleeding, prompting her mother to inquire from her what had happened as she had gone missing a few hours earlier.

“The victim, about 8 years old, was missing for some hours on Saturday, and her mother was already looking for her.

“When she was found, she was crying and bleeding.

“She was taken to the hospital in Ede, where she was checked,” the resident said.
(PUNCH)