The rising tide of student violence in Oyo State has taken a disturbing turn as 17 students have been indicted for the destruction of property worth over N25 million at Christ Apostolic Church Grammar School, Oniyere.
The Oyo State Police Command confirmed on Monday that the students, all from Government Technical College, Orita Aperin, launched a violent attack on the school last Thursday.
The rampage saw vehicles damaged, science laboratory blocks vandalized, and individuals sustaining machete cuts.
At a high-level stakeholders’ meeting at the Eleyele Police Headquarters, Commissioner of Police Johnson Adenola expressed deep concern over the level of indiscipline among students.
“I personally interviewed these children, and the revelation was shocking. The level of decadence in our public schools is alarming,” he stated.
The Commissioner of Education, Salihu Adelabu, condemned the incident, warning that the government would no longer tolerate such acts of lawlessness.
He emphasized that despite the state’s significant investment in education, some students were undermining efforts to improve the system.
Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, Fatai Owoseni (retd), called on parents to take responsibility for their children’s upbringing, blaming poor parental guidance for the rising cases of student delinquency.
As Oyo State grapples with the menace of school violence, many are calling for urgent reforms and stricter measures to prevent classrooms from turning into battlegrounds.
