student of the Obada Idi-Emi High School in the Imeko Afon Local Government Area of Ogun State, identified simply as Ariyo, has died after a teacher allegedly beat him with 162 strokes of the cane for breaking a dustbin.
An activist identified as Adetoun shared the incident on Instagram on Friday.
According to Adetoun, the teacher had reportedly brought a dustbin to Ariyo’s class with instructions that the students should not break the dustbin.
She narrated that Ariyo had jokingly replied to the teacher that the dustbin was bought with the students’ money, a response which was said to have infuriated the teacher.
The teacher was said to have reported to the principal who instructed that the student be punished.
Acting on the principal’s instruction, the teacher allegedly flogged Ariyo with 162 strokes of the cane and in the process, the student fell and collapsed.
Adetoun said further that the teacher and some staffers of the school who were at the scene delayed in taking Ariyo to the hospital for medical attention and when they did, he was dead
A senior police officer confirmed privy to the incident but was not authorised to speak with the media confirmed the incident to our correspondent.
He said that the incident created tension in the area but the intervention of the police brought it under control.
“We are on the matter, the incident wanted to create tension but we were able to douse the tension,” the police source said.
Confirming the incident on Friday, the spokesperson for the Ogun State Police Command, Omolola Odutola, said the student was confirmed dead at the Federal Medical Centre in Abeokuta, the state capital.
She said contrary to reports of being beaten 162 strokes of a cane, Ariyo was made to perform 162 frog jumps and was beaten 24 strokes of the cane.
She said, “The incident happened on October 15, 2024. The deceased was asked to do 162 frog jumps and was given 24 strokes of the cane.
“He was rushed to FMC Idi-Aba for medical attention and he died today (October 25). The deceased body has been deposited at the Ayetoro mortuary for autopsy. An investigation is ongoing.”
(PUNCH)