Ogun school shut as student dies after corporal punishment

The Ogun state government has shut down Obada Grammar School in Idi-Emi Town over the death of a student.

On October 15, a student identified as Monday Arijo died after undergoing corporal punishment administered by a teacher.

The teacher, Azamdjo Elijah, was said to have administered whips of the cane and an undisclosed number of “frog leaps” as punishment.

An unidentified student was said to have spoken out of turn while the principal, Tamrat Onaolapo, was addressing the school assembly.

Omolola Odutola, the state police PRO who confirmed the teacher’s arrest, said Arijo passed out and died after the punishment.

“The principal named Tamirat Ololapo was addressing her students on the assembly ground, telling them she had just purchased a new waste bin. One of the students made an utterance asking if it wasn’t the students’ monies that paid for the bin,” Odutola told TheCable.

“The principal left the assembly ground annoyed and other teachers took over. They started asking who made the statement. No one owned up, so a general punishment was administered. The students were flogged on the palm and asked to do frog jumps.

“A student, Arijo Monday, collapsed thereafter. The teacher who flogged them was arrested. His name is Emmanul Elijah.”

Arijo’s death has generated public outrage, causing the state government to temporarily shut down the school and suspend the principal.

“Blogs reported it as though the teacher killed the student. It instigated people who tried to burn the school in protest,” Odutola said.

Lekan Adeniran, the chief press secretary to the Ogun state government, said a panel has been set up to investigate the case.

TheCable understands that representatives of the state’s education ministry have visited the bereaved family to pay condolences.