Secondary School Girl Bruised by Teachers’ & Principal’s Beating

A 14-year-old girl, Anyalewechi Ogechi at Eva Adelaja Girls Secondary Grammar School in Bariga, Lagos was heavily bruised by her teachers’ and principal’s beating.

Her back and buttocks were visibly red and swollen.

Punch reports,

The victim was said to have been punished after a prefect of the school, identified only as Zainab, complained to the principal that Ogechi returned a slap she gave her for “being rude”.

It was learnt that the principal and the teachers also took turns to slap the Senior Secondary School 2 student and also asked the prefect to slap her.

Ogechi was said to have been treated at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, after the floggings.

She told PUNCH Metro that her ordeal started after the prefect challenged her for not carrying a chair.

She said, “Last Wednesday, I got to school around 8am. I was asked to take some chairs from a class to a hall where a programme for principals and school teachers would hold later in the day.

“The prefect challenged me for not participating, but I explained that I was waiting for my turn to carry the chairs.

“She said I was rude to her and ordered me to kneel down. I refused and told her I was sick. She said if I didn’t obey her, she would slap me. I said I didn’t do anything wrong and she couldn’t slap me. She said if I repeated that she would do it, and I repeated it.

“She slapped me and out of annoyance, I returned the slap. She then went to report to the principal.”

It was learnt that the principal, identified as Mrs. Coker, summoned Ogechi and ordered her to kneel down.

The victim alleged that after the principal slapped her four times, other teachers present took turns to assault her as well.

 “They called the prefect and asked her to slap me in their presence and she did that four times. A teacher, Mr. Balogun, ordered me to remove my tight and he flogged me on the buttocks.

“After this, I was asked to  sit for my exam in the vice principal’s office. When I was done, the principal gave the VP a letter, saying I should be made to cut some grass afterwards.”

It was gathered that although school closed officially at 3pm, the 14-year-old did not return home till 5pm.

She was said to have been taken to LASUTH, where she was treated and placed on  medication.

The ministry of Health and Lagos State government is currently investigating the case.

Source: Punch