The Ondo State Police Command has arrested five persons, including one Mrs Dorcas Asije, for allegedly masterminding the assault on a school vice principal who caught her son cheating during the ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
The incident, which occurred at Complete Child Development College, Aule, in Akure North Local Government Area, reportedly followed the confiscation of a mobile phone from Asije’s son by the Vice Principal, Mr Alexander Rotifa, during a routine inspection.
Sources said the student, Elisha Wisdom, was found with the phone in violation of WAEC rules. Enraged by the development, his mother was said to have mobilised a group of thugs who attacked the school official, leaving him seriously injured and hospitalised.
Confirming the arrests, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Olayinka Ayanlade, in a statement issued on Monday, said the suspects were apprehended by a tactical team led by the Deputy Commissioner of Police, under the instruction of the Commissioner of Police, CP Wilfred Olutokunbo Afolabi.
Ayanlade disclosed that the case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation, adding that the suspects would be charged to court upon conclusion of the investigation.
He urged members of the public to remain law-abiding and to promptly report any suspicious activity to the nearest police station.
The incident has drawn condemnation from the Ondo State Government, which described it as an affront to the education system and a disturbing act of examination malpractice.
The Administrative Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Dr Akindele Ige, who led a delegation of directors on an enquiry visit to the school, reiterated the government’s stance against all forms of misconduct during examinations.
Speaking through Director Olaoluwa Meshack, Ige said the government would not tolerate thuggery, hooliganism, or any attempt to undermine the sanctity of both internal and external examinations in the state.
“The Ondo State Government stands firm in its commitment to upholding the integrity of our education system. We will ensure that all those involved in this disgraceful act are brought to justice,” he said.
The assault on the vice principal has further highlighted the challenges faced by schools in curbing examination malpractice, with education stakeholders calling for stricter enforcement and community collaboration to protect school officials.
Authorities have also used the opportunity to remind students, parents, and guardians of the consequences of engaging in or supporting unethical behaviour during examinations.
