(NSCDC. Photo by Peoples Gazette)
Ten secondary school graduates were detained by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps’ (NSCDC) Adamawa State Command due to alleged final-year celebrations that were marked as “signed out.”
In a statement issued by DSC Nyako Amidu Baba, the command’s public relations officer, the students were charged with public annoyance and other offenses related to their final-year celebrations.
The statement added that the suspects were apprehended by the command’s Safe School Response Squad following intelligence reports of disruptive activities involving students.
Capital School, GDSS Demsawo, Doubelli and Damilu, who were allegedly engaged in painting their bodies, tearing their school uniforms, taking part in street fights, and other acts capable of disrupting public peace and order.
According to the statement, the trend, which has increasingly become a source of concern to parents, school authorities and the general public, had earlier drawn the attention of the Adamawa State Government, which, through the State Ministry of Education, issued a directive against the practice last year.
It said that following intelligence reports, this year’s activities by graduating secondary school students took a dangerous turn, with reports alleging that some individuals dressed in a criminal manner to dispossess members of the public of their mobile phones and other valuables.
It added that in the course of the operation, one of the persons arrested was found wearing a school uniform but was reportedly not a student, while the command also discovered that some of those arrested were not final-year students as initially presumed, but were still in SS1 and SS2.
The State Commandant, CC Nasiru Saleh, has consequently directed that a comprehensive investigation be conducted into the circumstances surrounding the activities and to identify other persons who may have been involved.
The statement reiterated that the command would not tolerate any act capable of disrupting the peaceful conduct of academic activities, threatening public safety, or undermining the security and wellbeing of students and members of the public.
He further directed the Safe School Response Squad to intensify its engagement with school authorities and other relevant stakeholders to strengthen preventive measures and ensure that schools remain safe and conducive for teaching and learning.
The command is also working with relevant school authorities to establish the identities of students and other individuals involved in the activities.
