Police detain eight-year-old pupil in Ogun

Eight-year-old pupil of Prospect Primary School, Akute, Ogun State, Oyindamola Onimole, has been detained by the Ajuwon Police Division.

It was gathered that Oyindamola, who was held by the police between 6pm on Wednesday and 12pm on Thursday, was arrested by a policeman from the station for reporting a teacher in the school, identified simply as Mrs. Oni, to his mother.

Oni, who is the wife of one of the policemen at the station, had maltreated Oyindamola at school and the pupil reported her to his mother, Mrs. Nimota Onimole, who subsequently stormed the school and complained about the assault.

After the mother left, the teacher was said to have descended on the child again for daring to report her to his mother.

A source in the school said, “After school hours, the teacher called her husband and he stormed the house of the pupil and arrested the minor.

“When Mrs. Onimole (Nimota) returned from work about 10pm, neighbours told her about the ordeal of her son. She left for the police station to ascertain what had happened. The mother, who went to the police station to bail her child, was also detained.”

Oyindamola’s father, Olalekan Omole, confirmed on Thursday that his wife and son were detained by the police.

He said, “At about 6.30pm, the teacher and her policeman husband, went to our house and forcibly took my son. They used okada (motorcycle) to pick my son.

“When my wife returned about 10pm and got to the station around 10.30pm, requesting to get her child released, she was equally detained at the station. All this happened because of the influence of the teacher, whose husband happened to be a policeman at the station.

“My two remaining children slept alone at home that night. I had to consult a lot of people to wade in and get justice for my family.

“But today (Thursday), at about 12pm, my son and my wife were released by the police.”

Olalekan, who expressed outrage at the detention of the minor, said he would contact his lawyer to take the matter up.

Oyindamola’s father added that he had informed the school proprietor about Mrs. Oni’s alleged misconduct.

When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said he was not aware of the case, but would investigate and get back to our correspondent.

But he had yet to get back to our correspondent as of press time.