Daud Olatunji
The deaths of two students of Ilugun High School, Elega, Abeokuta, Ogun State, allegedly chased into a river by Amotekun operatives, have ripped the veil off the rot in the state’s public schools—an ugly mix of indiscipline, sex, drugs, extortion, and heavy-handed policing.
The victims—19-year-old SS1 student, Ayomide Babalola, and a physically challenged female student, identified simply as Esther—had left their parents’ homes for school on that fateful day. Hours later, they were found drowned in a river near the school, allegedly while fleeing operatives of the Amotekun Corps invited by the school authorities.
“He never missed school” — Grieving mother
For Ayomide’s mother, Mrs. Babalola, the loss is unbearable. Speaking on the phone after being taken away from her Abeokuta home to Owode-Idi-Iroko for care, she said her son was a disciplined student.
“Whenever I attended PTA meetings and checked on his class, I always found him inside. He didn’t buy food in school, and he didn’t play rough. He was 19 years old and would have turned 20 next year,” she recalled in tears.
The grieving woman, fondly called Iya Onikoko, narrated how she waited in vain for Ayomide’s return:
“We did not see him return home. They said Amotekun came to the school, and while they were chasing and shooting, the students ran to hide. That was when my son jumped into the river. We expected him to come back, but we didn’t see him until 8 pm.”
PLATFORM TIMES reports that when both father and mother of Ayomide approached the school, she met only the gateman, who she quoted to have said “ Amotekun captured two students and that some entered the river but were rescued,”.
Days later, her son’s corpse was recovered. “Even the ₦10,000 I gave him was still in his pocket when they found him, along with his uniform, his bag, his BECE exam paper, and his passport,” she said, rejecting the Ministry of Education’s claim that Ayomide was not a student.
“All I want is for the government to help me. I have accepted my fate, but I want justice for my son,” she demanded.
… A Web Of Extortion, Indiscipline Triggers Violence
A PLATFORM TIMES investigation revealed that Mrs. Alaba Olukoga had been at loggerheads with members of the Parents’ Consultative Forum over the management of funds contributed by parents for school projects.
Findings showed that the PCF had been responsible for paying the salaries of three teachers and security guards, as well as funding the construction of a block of three classrooms in the school.
However, trouble started when the junior principal allegedly insisted on being the sole collector of the funds.
A parent, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the conflict worsened when some students’ names, including one identified as Ayomide Babalola, were missing from the school’s official data.
“Parents were made to pay under very difficult conditions, some even laid curses while paying. Students who did not complete the payment for their Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) were compelled to do so forcefully,” the parent said.
The situation reportedly repeated itself this year, with the principal allegedly collecting the PCF levy meant for Junior Secondary School 1 students. She was also accused of threatening to dissolve the PCF.
The matter escalated further when the school’s Press Club reportedly queried her over transparency in fund management, an action that allegedly prompted her to disband the club.
Despite advice from the Senior Principal to apologize to the parents, she allegedly refused, worsening the crisis.
Parents and students became more agitated when the junior principal allegedly withheld the results of Junior Secondary School 3 students, insisting that those owing levies must settle their payments before accessing their results.
An insider revealed that students were subjected to numerous levies considered illegal, including a compulsory ₦1,000 per term for results, BECE charges, and other undocumented payments.
Meanwhile, sources within the school disclosed that the institution has a population of about 4,000 students, many of whom were often found loitering outside the school premises due to broken fences.
The junior principal was also accused of hiring Amotekun Corps operatives to chase students who were in the bush, despite the school having NSCDC officers on its premises.
Reports indicated that over 100 students hiding in the bush were pursued by armed Amotekun operatives, causing panic.
Following mounting allegations and tension within the school, the state government intervened by suspending both the junior and senior school principals.
A disciplinary panel has since been set up to probe the matter, with indications that the outcome may not favour the embattled principal.
PLATFORM TIMES investigation revealed that the deaths were linked to unrest in the school over some levies including N7,500 allegedly demanded by the school for BECE results.
It was further gathered that defaulters were asked to stay outside classrooms, sparking protests that escalated into violence when Amotekun was invited.
“We Didn’t Call Amotekun” — Junior School Principal
Mrs. Alaba Olukoga, the junior school principal, denied responsibility for the security operatives’ presence.
“I was at a meeting far away from the school that Thursday. I didn’t contact Amotekun,” she said. “Perhaps someone else informed them. I wish we could call them to clarify, but I was not the one.”
She explained that the SS1 students were outside because their registrations and results had not been finalized.
“They were supposed to collect results that would determine their placement in Science, Arts, or Commercial classes. Some were asked to clear themselves before being given their results,” she said.
“They Were Disturbing” — Amotekun Commander
The Abeokuta-North Coordinator of Amotekun, Comrade Azeez Fowotade, insisted that his men did not fire shots and only acted on the school’s distress call.
“The principal told me the students were disturbing and causing commotion. He even said some students were having sexual relations inside the school,” Fowotade claimed.
He added: “We go to the school once in a while when reported. We don’t punish students; we hand them over to teachers. On that day, a teacher led us to where the students usually stayed, near the river. It is not true that we chased them there.”
But residents who witnessed the chase countered him. A resident said: “The people who were chasing the students wore red uniforms. They were Amotekun officers, armed with guns. Why should they be chasing students with guns?”
Another added: “I told them we were once mischievous students too, but there are better ways to discipline. Chasing them into a river is not the answer.”
The Ministry’s Denial, Contradictions
The Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu, in a statement, denied that Ayomide was a student of Ilugun High School, claiming his name was not captured in the state’s portal.
But PLATFORM TIMES sighted Ayomide’s school identity card, BECE results showing seven credits including Mathematics and English, and his uniform. His mother also insisted he never skipped classes.
This contradiction has fueled anger among residents and parents, who accuse the government of attempting a cover-up.
… The Rot In Ogun Schools
Beyond Ilugun High School, PLATFORM TIMES uncovered a disturbing catalogue of vices across Ogun’s public schools, documented for the Ministry These include:fighting with dangerous weapons ;assaulting teachers and staff ; possession of arms like guns, axes, and knives ; examination malpractice ; alcohol and drug abuse ; cultism and armed robbery links ; and rape and sexual harassment
A shocking case was the so-called “Operation Rape Junior Teachers” reportedly declared by some students, forcing female teachers into hiding.
PLATFORM TIMES reports that one female teacher was locked inside a toilet by a male student before being rescued.
At some Schools in the state, classrooms built for 35 students now hold over 120.
Students were seen sitting outside during lessons. “This overcrowding is the root cause of these problems,” one teacher lamented.
Traders around some schools were also accused of selling marijuana (“igbo”) and other substances to students through classroom windows.
“Students No Longer Submissive”
Experts who spoke with PLATFORM TIMES noted that discipline has collapsed. “Students are no longer submissive like in the past, when the rod was not spared. Today, teachers are helpless,” one expert said, calling for urgent reforms.
They advised that religious and moral instruction be reintegrated into schools while tackling overcrowding and restoring respect for teachers.
A tragedy that demands justice
For Ayomide and Esther, the tragedy of their deaths has become a symbol of how far the state’s education system has decayed.
“Teachers should teach and protect our children, not chase them to death,” Mrs. Babalola said bitterly.
Residents, parents, and rights activists are now asking the government one pressing question: Who invited Amotekun to Ilugun High School—and why should students pay the price of systemic rot with their lives?
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