The Ondo State Police Command, on Thursday, arrested the Senior Prefect of the All Saints Anglican Primary School, Oke Ijebu, in Akure, Miss. Endurance Ikimi, who shot and killed his mate, Master Ismaila Opeyemi, on Wednesday within the school premises.
The police have also interrogated the Head teacher of the school and the security guard on duty at the time of the incident.
The Public Relations Officer of the command, Mr. Aremu Adeniran, however, said the 10-year-old Endurance would remain in the protective custody of the police to avoid a retaliatory attack from the family of her deceased mate.
Adeniran said the headteacher and the security guard were not arrested but quizzed within the school premises.
Meanwhile, Ondo State Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, on Thursday, fought back tears as he paid condolence visit to the school. He promised to forestall a repeat of the unfortunate incident, which he blamed on porous security in schools.
The Governor was accompanied by his wife, Olukemi, the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Mr. Samuel Adesina, the Anglican Bishop of Akure Diocese, Rt. Revd Michael Ipinmoye, and other top government officials of the State.They could not hold back their emotions as they inspected the blood-splattered scene of the incident.
Mimiko commiserated with the teachers and family of the pupil as well as the Anglican Church. He said that the incident underscored the decision of his government to build mega primary schools across the state.
He said, ”It is the determination of this government to ensure that our primary schools are not death traps, the fact is that many things we ought to have done earlier have been abandoned a long time ago, the journey of a thousand miles begins with a step, I know that we shall get there even if it takes time.
”As I am talking to you now, this government is working on the building of Caring Heart Mega Schools in different locations in the state like Okitipupa, Ikare, Akure and Ondo.
”These Mega schools are designed in a way to make them meet the taste of the moment in order to return the lost glory of the state in the education sector.”
Mimiko said the schools, when completed, would accommodate 1,000 pupils.
In his response, the Anglican Bishop, Michael Ipinmoye, commended the Governor for coming to the school within 24 hours and called for the fencing of the school which he noted was too porous and could be infiltrated by hoodlums.
It would be recalled that on Wednesday, a pupil accidentally shot his mate with a gun they found under a pile of collapsed fence while clearing the rubble. |
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