Concerned about the happenings at the Federal Government Girls College (FGGC), Oyo, with regards to an allegation of sexual abuse of students by their teachers, the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Oyo State chapter has called on the Commissioner of Police, Adebowale Williams to speed up investigation into the matter and arraign those culpable in a court of competent jurisdiction.
It also called on the suspension of the school principal in order to give way to thorough investigation.
The FGGC, Oyo, an all girls’ boarding school of the federal government, is said to be fraught with sexual abuse of some female students which would have a negative impact on their lives and future.
In a press conference held on Sunday, July 17, 2022, at the NUJ Press Centre, Iyaganku, Ibadan, the state chairperson, Jadesola Ajibola, said that the attention of NAWOJ was called to the anomaly, prompting the conference to address the issue.
She said: “As an advocacy group and mothers, we are concerned about some happenings in the Federal Government Girls’ College, Oyo.
“Our attention has been drawn to the alleged continuous harassment and molestation of some school girls by teachers over the years, with many cases swept under the carpet.
“As an association that advocates for child rights, we cannot close our eyes to this menace that can truncate the future of the children, especially when we consider the fact that we have been invited to take on the case.
“We were told by concerned parents of the students in a petition to our state chapter that many girls have been regularly abused and violated by persons who are expected to be teachers, guardians and mentors of the students.”
The parents further alleged that the management of the school had been covering up such incidents in the past few months and refused to take disciplinary actions against the perpetrators when such cases were reported.
“Oyo NAWOJ condemns in strong terms any form of violation against the rights of any child in the state. We believe that by now the leadership of the school ought to have set up a panel to investigate this dangerous trend reported by concerned parents of the school,” the NAWOJ chairperson remarked.
She commended the state police boss, CP Williams for taking up the recent incident involving a 14 year-old girl who was sexually molested and abused by her teacher.
Ajibola listed the demands of the Association thus:
“We urge the police command to speed up investigations and start prosecution of the accused teacher before a court of competent jurisdiction within the state without delay
“We call on the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, to immediately set up an investigation panel to look into the alleged girls’ molestation, sexual harrasement and all forms of abuse against girls in FGGC, Oyo.
“We call on the Registrar of the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria, Professor Segun Ajiboye, who is an outstanding indigenous son of Oyo State to investigate the attitude of these registered teachers without delay and take appropriate action.
“And as the alleged perpetrators are undoubtedly members of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, we call on Comrade Raji Oladimeji to look into this issue further.
“As an association, we will not relent on our oars until we get justice for the survivor of the recent abuse, a minor who was regularly sexually abused and violated and other victims in that school.
“Also, we ask that the Federal Government who owns the school to set up a committee and make Oyo NAWOJ one of the members to investigate the alleged sexual abuse perpetrated on these students and bring any erring staff to justice .
“We demand the immediate suspension of the principal to allow thorough investigation on the matter; and the Parents-Teachers Association (PTA) chairman also should resign with immediate effect as the concerned parents claim they no longer have confidence in his leadership as it protends more danger to the lives of the girls in the school.
“We call on His Excellency, Governor Seyi Makinde and the First Lady to also support us in ensuring justice for the victims and provide more protection for pupils and students in the state.”
Oyo NAWOJ, through its chairperson, warned others who, instead of impacting knowledge, were constantly engaging in the inhuman act, to stop it immediately “as the law will surely catch up with them in a short time.”
Parent were also advised to do more in ensuring the protecting of their children at all times.
“Our Association remains the voice for the voiceless in the country. We will continue to respond to calls like this from other schools where some violators are still perpetrating such an act,” Ajibola assured.
