Kwara probes assault on corps member by school teachers

File photo: Corps members

The Kwara State Government has launched an investigation into an alleged assault on a female member of the National Youth Service Corps by teachers at Government Day Secondary School, Kulende, Ilorin, in the Ilorin East Local Government Area of the state.

A female corps member (name withheld) was on Thursday reportedly assaulted by some teachers in the school for failure to greet them.

PUNCH Online gathered that the female corps member was beaten and stripped by the teachers after scolding her for not greeting them properly.

According to sources, the corps member had visited the school to collect her clearance letter but was allegedly assaulted by a teacher for “not greeting properly.”

Eyewitnesses also claimed that a teacher attacked her, tearing her NYSC white T-shirt, and was allegedly joined by another teacher who slapped her.

The incident, which had sparked public outrage in the metropolis, saw people calling for an investigation, just as it raised concerns about respect, professionalism and abuse of power within educational institutions.

Confirming the incident, NYSC’s Head of Information and Public Relations in Kwara State, Morakinyo Oladipo, said that the scheme would seek redress for the attack against the corps member, adding that the state government has been briefed on the matter through the state Ministry of Youth, the supervising ministry.

The NYSC spokesperson said that in the interim, the corps member would be reposted out of that vicinity, “at least to calm her down to help her overcome the trauma.

“It’s a fact. The story is true and we’re writing a rejoinder. All necessary steps have been taken to seek redress for the assaulted corps member.

“The NYSC has formally informed the state government through the honourable commissioner, the state ministry of Youth, our supervisory ministry and the state government has swung into action immediately since the news broke out.

“Presently, we’re in the orientation camp. All the necessary steps to seek redress for the corps member are being taken. The NYSC expresses its displeasure concerning the matter.”

The state Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Sa’adatu Modibbo-Kawu, on Friday, said that the state government condemned the alleged assault.

Modibbo-Kawu, in a statement by the ministry’s press secretary, Peter Amogbonjaye, said, “The Kwara State Government has condemned the recent alleged assault against a youth corps member serving at Government Day Secondary School, Kulende, Ilorin, who was assaulted by a teacher named Mrs. Amuzat Fatima Nike.

“The act is unacceptable in the society and Kwara State as a whole, stressing that the state is known for peace and harmony and the state government will not allow anything to truncate the existing peace in its academic institutions.

“The Anti-Loitering Team of the Ministry and the Management Team of the Kwara State Teaching Service Commission have paid an unscheduled visit to the school to investigate the alleged assault case and calm has been restored.”

“The Commissioner, however, appealed to the management of the National Youth Service Corps and all concerned people to be patient, remain law-abiding and perform their duties without fear, as the concerned teacher has been summoned and necessary disciplinary procedures will be taken accordingly,” the statement concluded.