The Oyo State Police Command has arrested 59 students of Government Technical College, Orita-Aperin, for allegedly vandalizing property at Ibadan Christ Apostolic Grammar School.
State Commissioner of Police, Johnson Adenola, confirmed the arrests on Monday during a stakeholders’ meeting at the Command Headquarters in Ibadan. The meeting was convened to address and prevent further incidents of school-related violence in the state.
According to Adenola, the students went on a rampage last Thursday, storming the CAC Grammar School premises, damaging vehicles, destroying the school laboratory, and injuring some teachers.
Following investigations, 17 of the arrested students were found culpable, while the others were released without charges.
I was deeply concerned by the level of unrest in schools. The rising trend of violence among students in Oyo State is alarming.
Adenola stated
He noted that the police had organized the stakeholders’ meeting to curb the growing issue of school violence, particularly the pattern of students engaging in riots after term exams or at the end of school sessions.
“This behavior is unacceptable and must stop immediately,” he warned.
The commissioner emphasized that many students in the state were involved in cult activities, often using aliases different from their real names. In response, the police have introduced sensitization programs, including school visits, to educate students on the dangers of cultism and violence.
He urged parents and guardians to be more involved in their children’s lives, stressing that financial support alone was not sufficient for proper upbringing.
Oyo State Commissioner for Education, Science, and Technology, Prof. Saliu Adelabu, commended the police for their swift intervention and confirmed that the state government was prepared to take legal action through juvenile courts against those found guilty.
The meeting was attended by principals from both schools, the Chairman of Oyo State SUBEB, Dr. Nurein Adeniran, as well as parents of the affected students.
