20 Ilorin Students Arrested for Loitering During School Hours
The Kwara State Government has apprehended 20 secondary school students in Ilorin for loitering during school hours as part of its efforts to combat truancy.
The Press Secretary of the Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development, Peter Amogbonjaye, announced the arrests in a statement on Thursday. The students were reportedly picked up on Wednesday from various locations within the state capital.
Hajia Sa’adatu Modibbo-Kawu, the Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, urged parents to collaborate with schools to monitor their children’s activities. Speaking to the students and their parents at the ministry, she emphasized the importance of discipline and academic focus, reminding students to prioritize their studies to fulfill their parents’ aspirations.
“Students must desist from loitering during school hours to ensure the realization of their parents’ dreams,” Modibbo-Kawu said. She reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to providing inclusive and quality education for all children in Kwara State.
In response to reports of unruly behavior, Modibbo-Kawu paid unscheduled visits to Government Day Secondary School, Adeta, and Government High School, Adeta. She discovered that the unrest was fueled by a decade-long rivalry between the two schools, which their managements admitted had not been adequately addressed.
Expressing dissatisfaction with the situation, Modibbo-Kawu criticized the school authorities for failing to promptly report the matter to the ministry. She promised government intervention to resolve the disputes while urging students to focus on their academics and improve their conduct.
During her visit, she praised teachers for their dedication and reiterated the state’s commitment to advancing education as a tool for socio-economic development. She also urged students to reflect the government’s investment in their education through good behavior and warned against actions that could tarnish the state’s image.
The principals of the two schools, Fausat Ishola and Waheed Issa, lauded the government’s efforts to improve education but appealed for the reconstruction of perimeter fences to curb students’ tendencies to loiter.
The apprehended students expressed remorse for their actions and pledged to focus on their academics, promising regular class attendance and better behavior.
