Five individuals have been arrested by the Ondo State Police Command following the brutal assault on Mr Alexandra Rotifa, Vice Principal of Complete Child Development Centre in Akure. The attack reportedly stemmed from his refusal to allow a student to cheat during the ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
Among those arrested is Mrs Dorcas Asije, the mother of the student involved. According to police findings, she allegedly contracted local thugs to rough up the school official after he barred her child from engaging in exam malpractice.
Confirming the arrests in a statement issued on Monday, the State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Olayinka Ayanlade, said the operation followed a direct order from the Commissioner of Police, CP Wilfred Olutokunbo Afolabi.
“Following the assault on the Vice Principal of Complete Child Development Centre Akure, the Ondo State Police Command has arrested Mrs Dorcas Asije and four other accomplices,” said Ayanlade.
He added: “The police, while acting on the directive of the Commissioner of Police, CP Wilfred Olutokunbo Afolabi, deployed a tactical team led by the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations) to ensure their swift arrest.”
The case, now under the jurisdiction of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), will be charged to court upon the completion of investigations.
“The public is advised to remain law-abiding and report suspicious activity to the nearest police station,” Ayanlade concluded.
Reacting to the disturbing development, the Ondo State Government has promised a thorough investigation and stern consequences for all parties involved.
The Administrative Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Dr Akindele Ige, led a team of directors to the school for an on-site assessment.
Dr Ige, speaking through a statement signed by the Director of Information and Media, Mr Olaoluwa Meshack, condemned the incident and reaffirmed the government’s zero tolerance for hooliganism or exam malpractice.
“The Administrative Secretary, Dr Akindele Ige, condemned the action in its entirety, saying the state government would never condone examination malpractices or hooliganism under whatever guise,” the statement read.
He also issued a strong reminder that the use of mobile phones and other aids during examinations remains strictly prohibited across schools in the state.
“This is totally prohibited in schools across the state during examinations, either internal or external,” he warned.
Dr Ige further stated, “The State Ministry of Education, Science and Technology has some sets of rules on examination malpractices and would not hesitate to apply them on erring students, officials, or schools, either private or public.”
The West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) is a critical standardised exam for secondary school leavers across the region. Past efforts by both federal and state authorities to curb malpractice have often been undermined by societal pressure and interference by parents or officials.
