₦airaland Forum

The new education policy in Osun State claimed its first casualty on Monday as fierce-looking Muslim youths invaded the Baptist High School, Ejigbo, and beat up the students and teachers.

The principal of the school, Mr. Layi Oguntola, was thoroughly beaten and injured. Oguntola, as of the time of this report, was said to be receiving treatment at the Baptist Medical Centre, Ejigbo.

The attackers said they came because the school authorities stopped some Muslim pupils from wearing the hijab.

The hijab is a scarf that covers the head and chest, specially worn by a Muslim female.

Our correspondent learnt that the attackers stormed   the school while the students were already seated in their classrooms.

They were said to have headed straight for the Principal’s Office and asked Oguntola to apologise for sending the hijab-wearing students away from school but the principal refused to do so.

There have been protests when the Governor Rauf Aregbesola administration recently introduced a new education policy, which entails merger and reclassification of schools in the state.

The Baptist conference specifically said it would not allow hijab-wearing students in its schools.

On Monday, the attacked students and teachers were said to have run for refuge at the palace of the Ogiyan of Ejigbo, Oba Omowonuola Oyesosin. The monarch was also said to have been instrumental to the rescue of the wounded principal from the attackers, made up of mostly youths.

The attack forced the Baptist High School and other schools in the town to close abruptly for the day as police were deployed in the town to forestall reprisal.

Some Muslim students of the school were said to have been turned back last week for wearing hijab on their uniforms and their parents were said to have reported the case to members of an Islamic sect in the town.

Tension started building in the town following the attack and the speculations that the attackers were also planning to set ablaze the United Baptist Church, close to the school.

Some Christian youths were also said to have mobilised to defend the church.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Mrs. Folasade Odoro, when contacted, said she would find out the details of the incident and get back to our correspondent.

Commissioner for Information, Mr. Sunday Akere, confirmed the incident, which he described as an unfortunate one.

He appealed to the people of the state to shun violence, saying the state government in collaboration with security agencies would investigate and get to the root of the matter.

He said, “It is unfortunate that this happened at a time when we are already achieving peace in the area of schools reclassification.

“We are calling on all religious leaders and stakeholders to refrain from taking steps which could lead to the breakdown of law and order.”

Source? http://www.punchng.com/news/hijab-youths-attack-osun-school-beat-up-principal/

The President of the Trade Union Congress, Mr. Boboi Kaigama and the Acting General Secretary of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Mr. Chris Uyot,  on Monday,  called on the Federal Government to accede to the demand of striking university lecturers by paying their salary arrears from July to October, 2013.

Both Kaigama and Uyot, who spoke in different telephone interviews with our correspondent, said that the issue at stake was too serious for the government to endanger with a minor issue as  the withholding of the salaries of the striking lecturers.

Kaigama  said that the lecturers should have been paid their salaries as going on strike did not mean that they were no longer entitled to their salaries.

He explained that the union went on strike because the Federal Government failed to implement the 2009 agreement reached with the university lecturers.

He added that it was not the lecturers’ fault for embarking on the strike, saying the story would have been different if it was ASUU that violated the terms of the agreement.

He said, “It is okay, they are supposed to be paid their salaries;  when one is on strike, it does not mean that he cannot be paid his or her salary.

“They went on strike because of an agreement that was negotiated which the government has not been able to fulfill. The government should, pay them their salaries.  The situation would have been different if they were the ones that reneged on the agreement.”

On the issue of the insistence of the leadership of ASUU that the Federal Government must commence implementation of the fresh agreement with the union through the release of N100bn this year, he said that he did not see the government going back on the agreement.

He said that the TUC and the NLC would support ASUU to ensure the implementation of the last agreement as it was witnessed by him and the NLC President, Mr. Abdulwahed Omar.

“The NLC President Omar, and I are living witnesses to the final agreement that was reached between them and the government; we will support them based on what we witnessed, based on what they agreed with the government and the new implementation strategy.

“The  TUC and the NLC will back them to ensure that the implementation strategy is followed. An aspect will be implemented this year and the first quarter of next year,” he added

Kaigama said that while he wouldn’t speak for  ASUU, it was his conviction that they might have been waiting for an agreement to be signed before calling off the strike.

Speaking also, the Acting General Secretary of NLC, Uyot, said that the NLC was of the view that the Federal Government would not allow the issue of the outstanding salary arrears of ASUU members to disrupt its offer to the union.

Uyot said that it was unlikely that the Federal Government would allow such a “minor issue” to derail its discussions with the union considering the fact that both parties wanted the issue of the lingering strike to be resolved.

He stated also that while ASUU went on strike, the government couldn’t be exonerated from the industrial dispute having failed to implement the 2009 agreement reached with the university lecturers.

“Well, given the spirit of the discussions between ASUU and government officials led by President Goodluck Jonathan, the issue of non-payment of salaries, we do not think, is something the government might consider because the spirit was such that both parties particularly the government wanted resolved.

“So, we don’t think that a minute issue would derail the offer that the government has made.

“In any case both parties were involved in the strike. The union signed an agreement with the government which the government did not implement, so government cannot say that it was not part of the problem,” he said.

Source? http://www.punchng.com/news/fg-should-pay-ASUU-salary-arrears-nlc-tuc/

Statistics gathered by a human rights organisation, Partnership for Justice, has shown that sexual assaults such as rape are mostly common in Oshodi, Ikeja, Agege and Ketu areas of Lagos.

Managing partner of the group, Itoro Eze-Anaba, said this in Lagos on Monday during the opening of the Marabel Centre – a sexual assault and referral centre – located at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital.

She said the purpose of establishing the centre was to provide assistance for rape victims without divulging their secret.

She said, “From July to November 25, the centre has offered free services to 124 victims who have been raped or sexually assaulted in Lagos State. Our statistics show that majority of the survivors of rape are children between the ages of 11-15.

“Children are more at risk of sexual assault in Oshodi/Mafoluku, Ikeja, Agege/Oko Oba, Mile 12/Ketu areas. The Mirabel Centre offers medical examination and treatment for illness and injuries caused by sexual assault. We counsel to help cope with emotional and psychological effects of rape and help in reporting the incident to the police.”

Chief Medical Director of LASUTH, Prof Wale Oke, added that the centre would increase access to Lagosians, whom, he said, suffer more from sexual assaults.

He said, “Victims of rape or sexual assault may feel ashamed, angry, guilty, distressful and anxious. There may be a disbelief of what has happened to them, and hence they need to get back to their normal lives as quickly as possible.

“Whatever they feel is normal; they need back their lives and must be committed to restoring it. Women in Lagos have always been at the forefront of the liberation struggle, and we owe an immense debt of gratitude to women for the instrumental role they play in the polity.”

Chairman, Advisory Council, National Human Right Commission, Abuja, Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, emphasised that those found guilty of sexual assaults should be punished.

“We must stop being silent and stop negotiating certain boundaries in the name of family name or friendship.  Defaulters of sexual assaults should be severely punished because we have to stop exposing our children and women to risk of rape and other sexual assaults,” he said.

Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mr. Felix Ogundeji, urged Lagosians not to hesitate to report rape cases to the police before evidences became vague.

“There is no police station that you will report sexual assaults case to that won’t help you. All you need to do is to ensure that you contact them early so the evidences can be easily proven and justice can be well ascertained. You should know that good evidences are required to excel in a criminal case,” he added.

Source? http://www.punchng.com/news/oshodi-ikeja-top-sexual-abuse-areas-in-lagos/

No evil could be worse than this. No sin could be greater than taking a life, that of a toddler for that matter. He's getting what's coming to him, God cannot be mocked. May the infant's soul rest in perfect peace. May her family be granted the fortitude to bear this loss. Cruel world indeed!

Oh my! Considering all his weirdness and sheer craziness why do I still find this guy utterly intriguing?? Takes a whote lotta boldness to be this guy. Like him or hate him, he's still Denrele.

Iheanacho definitely...

Not bad at all...

charlesobike: dats not her but rather de mum. Check their dresses. Use ur 4eye

Take your own advice. Is Peter wearing the same attire? That is definitely Lola Omotayo right there!

Italy 0-1 Nigeria

Poor lady...

#0.05

Oh yeah. It's almost here!

It's "optional" in my school, but the wise know what's up...

This just had to happen.

I'm not sure it's the edible puff puff we're thinking of that Tiwa was referring to oh. I don't see how that type would have such effect.

I hope more than anything else that Ifunanya wins this, at least for a change. But anyone who's followed GUS over the years knows that at this point it's really about being lucky, or do I say favoured. Absolutely anyone could take the day.

How sad.

She's taking good care of herself just as one would expect. That's good...

Hmmmm. And it's happening just now?

Na wa oh!

More pressing issues to address than this...

Good riddance...

Hmmm. Nigeria.

Wow

Can anyone really claim to be that surprised? I think not.

Laudable indeed. A step in the right direction surely.

Nigerians still die from Cholera in this day and age? Sad indeed, truly sad.

Isn't this Nigeria?

This is serious

Interesting.

Something new please...