Bloody clash: Affected schools shut indefinite

BY OLA AJAYI

IBADAN -Following the bloody clash between students of two secondary schools in Ibadan, on Tuesday, the Oyo State Commissioner for Education, Dr, Nureni Aderemi Adeniran, has ordered indefinite closure of the two schools. The schools involved in the crisis included Community Grammar School, Kudeti and Ibadan City Academy, Eleta.

The clash was said to have happened when the students of Eleta were having their ongoing May/June Senior School Certificate Examination, SSCE, in the Physics Laboratory. Some teachers also were among those injured in the fracas.

Though, it was reported that two of the warring students died, the Nigeria Police through its State Public Relations Officer, Mr. Tunji Ajimuda, said only one person died. He also disclosed that six suspects had been arrested for their alleged role in the melee that led to death of a female student in the school.

The indefinite closure of the two schools, according to the commissioner, was informed by loss of life, sustenance of injuries and vandalism of property.

About five vehicles were said to have been burnt.

The commissioner said the step was necessary to safeguard the lives of students and teachers and to forestall further destruction of property and with a view to ensure maintenance of peace in the state.

He sympathized with the families of the person that lost his life in the crisis and told security agents to ensure that peace was maintained in the two schools.

The Commissioner hinted that the state government would not take lightly any attempt by anyone to foment trouble and disrupt academic activities in the schools.

Vanguard gathered that the crisis erupted when a female student in one of the schools was beaten up on Monday and in what looked like a reprisal attack, the students of Ibadan Academy allegedly unleashed terror on their counterparts at Kudeti.