By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan
The Oyo State Chapter of Nigeria Association of Women Journalists, (NAWOJ) on Sunday, demanded probe of an alleged sexual assault on a 14 year-old girl and some students of Federal Government Girls College, (FGGC) Oyo by some of their teachers.
Addressing a press conference in Ibadan with aggrieved parents of FGGC Oyo at the Oyo State NUJ Press centre, Iyaganku, the state NAWOJ Chairperson, Comrade Jadesola Ajibola frowned at the alleged assault and that the association condemns any form of violation against the rights of any child in the state.
Specifically, the NAWOJ Çhairperson called on the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu to immediately set up an investigation panel to look into the alleged girls’ molestation, sexual harrasement and all forms of abuse against girls in FGGC, Oyo.
She also tasked the Registrar of the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria, Professor Segun Ajiboye to equally investigate the attitude of the alleged registered teachers without delay and take appropriate action.
She stressed that as women journalists in the state saddled with advocacy for all gender especially women and children, ” we cannot close our eyes to this menace that can truncate the future of our children.”
According to the Chairperson,” Oyo NAWOJ is concerned about some happenings in the Federal Government College, Oyo, an all girls’ boarding school of the Federal Government which has a negative impact on the life and future of many students’.
“Our attention has been drawn to the alleged continuous harassment and molestation of some school girls by teachers over the years with many cases swept under the carpet. As an association that advocates for child rights, we cannot close our eyes to this menace that can truncate the future of children especially when we consider the fact that we have been invited to take on the case”, she said
Comrade Ajibola added, ” we were told by concerned parents of the school in a petition to our state chapter that many girls have been regularly abused and violated by persons who are expected to be teachers, guardians and mentors to the students.
“The parents further alleged that the management of the school had been covering up such incidents in the past few months and refusing to take disciplinary actions against the perpetrators when such cases are reported. Oyo NAWOJ condemns in strong terms, any form of violation against the rights of any child in the state, we believe that by now the leadership of the school ought to have set up a panel to investigate this dangerous trend reported by concerned parents of the school.”
Comrade Ajibola pointed out that “as an association, we want to first commend the Oyo state police Command under the leadership of the new Commissioner of Police, CP Adebowale Williams for taking up the recent incident involving a 14 year-old girl who was allegedly sexually molested and abused by her teacher and that the police command should speed up investigations and start prosecution of the accused teacher before a court of competent jurisdiction within the state without delay.
“As an association, we will not relent on our oars until we get justice for the survivor of the recent abuse, a minor who was regularly sexually abused and violated and other victims in that school. Oyo NAWOJ also asked that the Federal Government who owns the school to set up a committee and make Oyo NAWOJ one of the members to investigate the alleged sexual abuse perpetrated on these students and bring any erring staff to justice.
“We demand the immediate suspension of the principal to allow thorough investigation on the matter and the PTA chairman also should resign with immediate effect as the concerned parents claim they no longer have confidence in your leaderships as it portends more danger to the lives of the girls in the school. We call on His Excellency, Governor Seyi Makinde and the First Lady to also support us in ensuring justice for the victims and provide more protection for pupils and students in the state.”
The Oyo NAWOJ Çhairperson stressed, “we wish to also warn others who are constantly engaging in this inhuman act to stop it immediately as the law will surely catch up with them in a short time. Parents are also advised to do more in ensuring the protecting of their children at all times.”
Speaking on behalf of the aggrieved parents, Hon. Adebowale Adebayo and Mrs. Faniyan Adetoun Nancy called for immediate sack of teachers involved in alleged rape and assault of their children as such assault has been happening over the years, while all efforts and reports made by concerned parents to the school authority in order to prevent further occurrence of such evil act proved abortive.
Mrs. Nancy noted that the recent rape case involving a 14-year old girl of SS 2 of the college have started two years ago when the girl was twelve year old but the school authority kept mum over the matter.
