Parents of students attending the Air Force Secondary School (AFSS) Ikeja have launched a protest after their sons and daughters were allegedly thrashed to within an inch of their lives on the orders of the Commandant of the school last Wednesday.
They specifically complained about their daughters who were given up to 30 strokes on their buttocks, when the Commandant, Group Captain Babatunde Oguntunde, unleashed soldiers on them over alleged indiscipline.
A parent in a statement sent to NewsmakersNG says, “On Wednesday the 22nd of January 2020, during the assembly at Air Force Secondary School (AFSS), Ikeja, the bad behaviour of an SS3 student who tore his result of the previous term due to the poor performance was announced.
He was disciplined on the assembly ground with 12 strokes of the cane.
After that, the students from SS2 – SS3 were also accused of indiscipline.
“It was at this point that the Commandant, Group Captain Babatunde Oguntunde, told the students of SS1 – SS3 to kneel so they would be flogged according to their classes.
SS1 was flogged 20 strokes
SS2 was flogged 25 strokes, SS3 30 strokes.
The students were told to kneel on the floor and bend so they would be flogged on their buttocks. Due to the large number of students, the soldiers lost count and began flogging the students at will, which made some students get more strokes than was allocated to their class.
“A female student fainted and instead of being rushed to the sickbay for First Aid, the Commandant ordered the soldiers to keep flogging her till she regained consciousness.
An SS1 student had an asthma attack and she was still flogged.”
The parent further told NewsmakersNG that the students were left with bruises both from the flogging and the Corporal punishment of rolling on the floor.
When contacted, Air Force authorities in Lagos told NewsmakersNG that a committee has been set up to investigate the incident and report back.
The parents expressed fears that corporal punishment can cause serious damage to internal organs and muscles, nerve damage, psychological trauma, and even death as it happened to a sick student who was reportedly flogged to death at a school in Jos and another at Government Day Secondary School Sankalawa in Bungudu Local Government Area of Zamfara State recently.
The Child’s Rights Awareness Creation Organisation (CRACO), in Lagos, has shown interest in the matter.
Nigeria is one of the countries listed by International Organisations where flogging is still legally practised
Photos;
A. Group Captain Babatunde Ogunrinde
B. One of the bruises from the floggings
