The Muslim Students Society of Nigeria (MSSN) has criticised the management of Metorite Standard School, Ayetoro, Ogun State for tying two students to crosses for late coming.
In a heavily worded press release jointly signed by the MSSN B-Zone Amir, Qasim Oladeji, General Secretary, Abdul Jalil AbdurRazaq and Public Relations Officer, Bashir Momoh on Sunday, the group called for a thorough investigation into the alleged assault on the two students involved.
EduCeleb.com recalls that social media users had since penultimate Wednesday criticised the principal and proprietor of the school for the sort of punishment meted on the students. The MSSN identified that the action was also insensitive of the religion of one of the victims who was a hijab wearing Muslim.
While acknowledging the school’s prerogative to punish erring students, the apex Muslim student body described such a punishment as ‘absurd’, ‘ungodly’, ‘barbaric’ and ‘child abuse’.
“We, as a students’ body recognise the right of parents, school administrators and teachers to instill discipline in their children or students within reasonable limit. It is African and equally not inconsistent with the dictates of our religion, Islam.
“However, the action of Mr Afolayan Joseph and the Principal of the school as stated above is not only barbaric, it is crude, unbelievable, an infringement on the students’ right to dignity of human person. The action is equally insensitive of the religious inclination of the hijab-wearing student. It is a clear case of child abuse,” the group said.
It also commended the Nigerian Police for swinging into action and arresting both the Proprietor and the Principal for criminal case of assault and child abuse as it sought their prosecution. The group challenged the Ogun State government and human rights groups to speak up against the alleged rights violations too.
“The Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria, B-Zone commend the Nigeria Police, Ogun State Command for their swiftness in arresting the situation and the level of their investigation of the matter so far. We specifically single out for commendation the police officer who witnessed the incidence and got the suspects arrested.
“We however call on the police authority in the state to waste no time in charging the suspects to court and prosecute the case to logical conclusion in order to serve as deterrent to others.
“We also call on the Ministry of Education, Ogun State to spring into action and conduct a thorough investigation into the activities of Metorite Standard School and do everything possible to save the innocent students from the awkward attitudes of its management. We believe that Mr Joseph Afolayan and his Principal are not worthy of being entrusted with the lives of innocent students.
“While we see the ungodly, barbaric and demeaning attitude exhibited in this case as purely attitudinal and devoid of religious undertone and wish to address it as such, we use this medium to urge other religious leaders and organizations to always call a spade what it actually is, a spade not any other name.
“Finally, we call on human right community and other stakeholders to speak out against this child abuse and show the whole world that their activism is devoid of religious sentiment,” the statement concluded.
EduCeleb.com reports that Metorite students has been largely regarded as notorious for various social vices in the past. Back in 2013, a student in the school murdered another. Also, there were reported cases of students beating up teachers in the past.
Attempts to reach the school management for comments were unsuccessful as at the time of filing this report.
