The Ogun State Government has suspended the principals of both the Junior and Senior sections of Ilugun High School, Elega in Abeokuta, following the death of a student.
Preliminary findings revealed that the junior school principal, Mrs. Alaba Olukoga, was involved in illegal fee collection, which reportedly sparked a protest by students.
It was gathered that while local security operatives were invited to disperse the protesting students, one of them attempted to escape by jumping over a fence into a nearby river and drowned.
Ogun State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Professor Abayomi Arigbabu, announced the principals’ suspension at a press briefing in Abeokuta, adding that it would remain in force pending conclusion of full investigation into the incident.
Professor Arigbabu emphasized that though the senior school principal, Mrs. Temitope Ladipo, was not directly implicated, her suspension was necessary to ensure fairness and transparency in the probe.
The Commissioner who described the loss as painful and irreparable, expressed government’s condolences to the bereaved family, promising that anyone found culpable would face the full weight of the law.
He also appealed to students to remain calm and shun vandalism, warning that damaging school property would only worsen the challenge of inadequate infrastructure.
The Commissioner reaffirmed government’s commitment to providing free and qualitative education across the state and pledged that the findings of the investigation would be made public in due course.
