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  • Crime - Lagos
  • Updated: January 30, 2023

Hoodlums Invade Lagos School, Chase Students, Vandalise Property

Hoodlums Invade Lagos School, Chase Students, Vandalise Prop

A private school in Baruwa, Ipaja area of Lagos State, Shalom Group of Schools, has been invaded by no fewer than 40 hoodlums.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the student and staff of the school were stopped from gaining access into the premises as the hoodlums who were identified as land grabbers, popularly known as 'omo onile' barricaded the entrance.

The proprietress of the school, Adedayo Odeka, who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday said the thugs were allegedly led by Kaka, a popular land grabber.

Stranded School Students

Students, Teachers Chased Out Of School Premises

Hoodlums Vandalising PropertyOdeka maintained that the land was allocated to the school by the Federal Government in 1992, noting that it was uncalled for to be claimed by hoodlums.

“He claimed that they had won a court judgement to take possession of our land.

“I told him to show me the judgement, as I was not aware of any court case let alone judgment but he refused.

“Coming out overnight and claiming the land is uncalled for.

“This is a land we have been occupying for 30 years, students have been graduating year in and year out.

“The land is a Federal Government allocation, we don’t have any dealings with ‘Omo Onile’ we have all our documents,” she said.

The proprietor also noted that the hoodlums had come to the school o Saturday and damaged its fence and railings to gain access.

They were also said to have forced boarding school students to vacate.

She, however, said “When the case was reported, the police reluctantly followed us to the site after much pressure but could not act as the hoodlums continued with the erection of the structure,” she said.

Odeka called on the government to arrest and persecute the perpetrators of the act.

Michael Yakubu, the security guard of the school recounted that over 40 hoodlums, who were led by the Kaka group invaded the school around 6:00a:m on Saturday.

“They broke the wall, and removed the two main gates to gain access, claiming that the land belonged to them.

“They brought in sand, and blocks and started digging and erecting structures on the school field.

“After erecting the structure beyond nine coaches, they blocked the two entrances with blocks, put a small gate and locked it.” he explained.

A teacher, Ifeoma Abah, also said: “They chased the students out without considering whether their parents were close or far, some of them were half clad but the men didn’t care.

“We came this morning only to be denied access into the school.

“The pupils, students and teachers are stranded, we all have rights as Nigerians to learn,” she said.

A parent of the school, Osagie Igebo, said: “This is wrong for the society and the system, it is sad, look at the kids outside, these are our future generation that we are talking about.

“We have to change this narrative, even if there is a dispute on the property, it should be resolved amicably.”

In narrating her experience, Success Afolayan, an SSS 2 boarder in the school said: 

“I was traumatised, as we were running from pillar to post,  this action is uncalled for, in a learning environment.

“This is going to affect our education, as we do not know when it will be resolved.”

Also speaking, the Principal of the school, Oluwatoyin Okafor narrated, 

“They destroyed the wall and iron rails and burgled the generator house.

“We were not given audience, the security agents were standing by their side with guns threatening to shoot us if we talk.

“We were left with no option than to call the parents of the boarders, who live in Lagos to pick them, while we pleaded with some teachers and parents to take those who live outside Lagos home with them.

“Our students are preparing for WASCE, NECO and JAMB, they just came to disrupt the school activities.”

NAN reports that some students were seen raising cardboard with inscriptions such as “Education is our right”, “say no to Omo-onile oppressors”, “the future is weeping”, “Kaka, why take our right from us”, “Omo-onile, why send us out of our school” and , “Government come to our rescue, save us from land grabbers” among several others.

Confirming the case, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin said the case is a civil, not a police case.

“The case is not a police case, it is a civil case.

“I will urge the parties not to take laws into their own hands, so that a civil case will not turn to a criminal case,” he said.

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