The latest rape allegation against some students of Chrisland School is not the first of its kind as the school was also in the news for the wrong reason 3 years ago.
Recall that one Mr Adegboyega Adenekan, a supervisor at Chrisland School, Victoria Island, Lagos, was sentenced to 60 years in prison for defiling a minor who was only about 2 years of age.
Mother of defiled 2-year-old child speaks
Despite winning the legal battle, the mother of the defiled child, blamed the careless nature of the school, regretting ever putting her child in the school. The victim’s mother in a reaction to the sentence had said she had so much trust in the school but that Chrisland failed her.
According to her, Chrisland was not just an ordinary school, but one of the best, a reason they took their kids to the school. She had lamented that they saw many other schools but opted for Chrisland because they believed in the ability of the school to deliver quality education and keep them safe.
According to her:
“It never crossed my mind that her class teachers would carelessly allow someone to take her out of the class to his office to molest her.”
Defending the family regarding its responsibility towards the defiled child, the mother said the family was never careless with watching and protecting the affected child.
The mother said:
In our wildest dreams, “we never thought our daughter could be abused in school, the one place we could not follow her to.”
Alleged violation of 10-year-old girl
Afripost.ng recalls that a 10-year-old girl of Chrisland School was allegedly violated in Dubai, a tourist city in the United Arab Emirates, leading to media controversy on the video uploaded online.
A 10-year-old pupil of the school was allegedly abused following the school’s trip to Dubai and the video believed to be part of a ‘Truth or Dare’ game by the students in one of their rooms was recorded by one of the students. The development has since resulted in nationwide outrage as a similar incident had happened in the school 3 years ago. Different allegations and opinions have emerged over the issue even as the school and the girl’s mother have made effort in order to absolve themselves of any blames.
10-year-old pupil’s mother cries out
Mother of the 10-year-old girl involved in the sex video has raised the alarm over the suspension of her daughter, accusing the school of ‘cover-up.’ According to the mother in a video she shared regarding the incident when the family’s attention was drawn to the trending video, the school was confronted and after several attempts by the school management to pacify the family failed, the suspended the student and warned her not to open up to anyone on what transpired. She cited one of the peace meetings called by the school on zoom.
She further accused the school of threatening to kill her child if she speaks out, alleging that the school lied that what transpired between her daughter and the boy in the video was just ‘kiss.’ She said she only saw the full video when a parent drew her attention to it.
She also accused the school of taking her daughter for a pregnancy test, meanwhile, she was told that her daughter was being tested for COVID-19. She also alleged that both the boys and her daughter were high on drugs during the episode.
The mother begged Nigerians to wade into the matter by ensuring that justice is served.
According to her, when she and her husband confronted Chrisland School over the incident, the school responded by suspending her daughter, a development she found unfair and disappointing.
Chrisland school denies allegations
But the school has since denied most of the allegations raised by the mother, saying that no rape of anyone or the administration of a pregnancy test on any child took place under them.
It admitted that only a mandatory COVID-19 post-travel test was carried out on the students. It disclosed that the test was carried out in compliance with COVID-19 travel protocols, at the Life Centre Medical Services on March 21, 2022, at School Hall, Opebi.
The school’s statement signed by Mr. Akin Fadeyi, a member of the Advisory Board of the school cautioned Nigerians about their comments on the incident involving school children. It said only 6 of the 77 pupils who traveled to Dubai misbehaved.
The school had earlier explained why it suspended the child, saying her act with other kids in the just-concluded trip to Dubai was immoral and against the school’s rules.
Lagos govt shuts Chrisland school
Amid the allegations and counter-allegations on the development, the Lagos state government has shut down the school and has opened an investigation into the allegation of rape and others.
The state Ministry of Education in the statement said investigation into the matter has commenced.
It further disclosed that the allegations involving Chrisland School were under investigation by the relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), including the Ministry of Education; Office of Education Quality Assurance; Ministry of Youth and Social Development; Ministry of Justice, and the Lagos State Domestic & Sexual Violence Agency.
The statement signed by all MDAs, revealed that the aspect of the criminal allegation has been forwarded to the Commissioner of Police for further action.
Police orders investigation
Meanwhile, the Lagos State police commandhas disclosed that investigation has commenced into the allegation. The spokesman for the command, SP Benjamin Hundey, said in a statement that the investigation was ordered by the Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Abiodun Alabi.
Nigerians share opinions on allegations against Chrisland School
Nigerians have shared varied opinions on the development shacking Chrisland school to its foundation. In the sharply divided opinions, some have blamed the school for not doing enough to protect students under them, while others have blamed parents for failing in their responsibilities to their children, especially with regard to the moral aspect of the form.
NAPTAN blames poor parenting
The National body of the Parents Teachers Association, NAPTAN, has blamed poor parenting for the act. In a statement signed by Mr Adeolu Ogunbanjo, Deputy National President, in a statement said it was a huge shame and a very sad one. He acknowledged watching the video and concluded that it is as a result of poor parenting, indiscipline and improper counseling on sex education.
Young girl already enjoying the act – Actress Tonto Dike
Similarly, a Nollywood actress, Tonto Dike, has argued that from the video, the 10-year-old girl was already enjoying the act. According to her, the act in the video was not her first time as she may have an older person training and taking care of her.
Dipo Awojide blames Chrisland school
Social media influencer, Dipo Awojide has opined that the school did not live up to its duty of protecting the children they took to a foreign country. He argued that they could be sued for their recklessness. He said Chrisland School main duty during such a trip was to care for their pupils and students, but failed to do so during the Dubai trip.
Omojuwa blames Chrisland School
In a similar view, popular influencer, Japheth Omojuwa said the school should take full responsibility of failing to protect the students. He argued that it deserves the hammer of the authorities.
Whatever be the reactions now, the outcome of the investigation will determine who ctually carries the bulk of the game even though it apopears that both parties have various roles to play in the lives the of the kids under them.
Afripost.ng has observed that many people who had earlier uploaded the controversial video had taken it down after a warning came from the state government that whoever is found promoting the video on a platform risks jail term.
Nigerians have been distributing the video on social media, a situation that has worried both the school and the parents of the girl in the video.
Since the news broke out celebrities and ordinary Nigerians have watched and analysed the video blaming either the school or the parents of the students in the video.
The Lagos government has reopened Chrisland School after shutting it down. But there are questions about the outcome of the investigation.
