By Peter Onyekachukwu 
By Peter Onyekachukwu
In a swift response to growing concerns over examination malpractice and violence in schools, the Ondo State Police Command has arrested one Mrs. Dorcas Asije and four accomplices for their alleged involvement in the assault of a vice principal during the ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) in Akure North.
Mrs. Asije, mother of the student at the center of the scandal, allegedly mobilized a group of thugs to beat up Mr. Rotifa, a vice principal at Child Development College, after he confiscated her son’s phone while attempting to cheat during an exam session.
The incident, which left the school community in shock, occurred last week but took a dramatic turn on Monday when the state police, acting on the orders of Commissioner of Police, Wilfred Afolabi, arrested the suspects. The operation was led by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of operations, alongside a tactical team.
Confirming the arrests, the Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Olayinka Ayanlade, said the suspects have been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further interrogation. “They will be charged to court upon the conclusion of the investigation,” he said. He also urged residents to remain law-abiding and report any suspicious activity to the nearest police station.
The case has drawn widespread public outrage, with many calling for stricter measures to curb exam malpractice and protect teachers from violence.
“This is a dangerous precedent,” said a teacher from another school in the area who asked not to be named. “If parents now send thugs to attack teachers for doing their job, then what message are we sending to our children?”
The Ondo State Ministry of Education also reacted strongly. In a statement signed by Mr. Olaoluwa Meshack, Director of Information and Media, the ministry warned that it would not tolerate any breach of examination protocols. Administrative Secretary of the Ministry, Mr. Akindele Ige, stressed that the use of mobile phones or any device that could aid malpractice is strictly prohibited in all schools, whether public or private.
“We have zero tolerance for examination malpractice, and any student, official, or school found culpable will face severe consequences. Thuggery and hooliganism have no place in our school system,” the statement read.
As the investigation continues, education stakeholders are calling on parents to support ethical learning and uphold discipline rather than compromise the integrity of the education system.
This case stands as a stark reminder of the urgent need to reinforce values of accountability and respect within Nigeria’s educational institutions—before the future of more young people is irreversibly damaged.