A tragic incident unfolded at Ilugun High School, Elega, Abeokuta, Ogun State, as violence broke out over alleged illegal fee collection by teachers, resulting in the death of one student and significant property damage.
According to Daily Trust, the incident began last Friday when the school management called in operatives of the Amotekun Corps to disperse students protesting against fees they claimed were unlawful.
Witnesses said the arrival of local security forces caused students to flee in different directions. During the chaos, some students jumped into a nearby river, leading to the death of one student.
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Three students entered the river; two were rescued, while one, identified as Babalola, drowned. His body was recovered a day later and buried at the riverbank on Saturday.
Following the tragic death, aggrieved students returned to the school on Monday, launching a rampage that targeted teachers and school property. Viral footage circulating online showed students smashing classroom windows and removing entire aluminium frames, leaving several classrooms severely damaged.
Controversy over illegal fees
In September 2019, Governor Dapo Abiodun suspended the N3,700 levy in all public schools across Ogun State. Despite this, the administration has faced criticism recently over levy payments. At a stakeholders’ forum themed “Repositioning Education for Outstanding Performance,” Governor Abiodun clarified that his government did not introduce the fee but inherited it from the previous administration.
“The fee was proposed by the PTA and accepted by the previous administration. It negates the free education policy of this administration. It is like payment through the back door. I hereby suspend the payment in all our schools. We will also review the role of principals and headmaster generals,” the governor explained.
Abiodun added that his education team would reassess items that prompted the levy while ensuring adequate funding for daily school operations. However, reports indicate that inconsistent release of funds has led some schools to impose levies on students. At Ilugun High School, teachers allegedly charged N7,500 per student, triggering the crisis when many could not pay.
Principals suspended following investigation
The Ogun State government confirmed the incident, stating that only one person died. Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu, noted that the deceased could not be verified as a student of the school.
“Our preliminary investigations revealed that the young man who died was identified by three different names — Babalola Ayornide, Salako Jimoh, and Afolabi Babalola — none of which appear in the official state education database. This suggests the possibility of illegal enrolment,” Prof. Arigbabu explained.
The commissioner confirmed teachers were involved in illegal fee collection, leading to the protest. Consequently, the government announced the indefinite suspension of the school’s junior and senior principals, Mrs. Olukoga Adeyemi Alaba and Mrs. Ladipo Olabisi Temitope, pending further investigation.
“In light of these findings, both principals are suspended while we conduct a thorough review of the causes of this incident. Additionally, the government has established a whistleblower scheme through the Teaching Service Commission to monitor illegalities and misconduct in schools,” he added.
Prof. Arigbabu reaffirmed Governor Abiodun’s commitment to free education for all school-age children in Ogun State, urging students to avoid destruction of school property.
Security response and restored peace
Ogun State Commissioner of Police, Lanre Ogunlowo, confirmed the incident while stressing that peace has been restored. “The Ministry of Education is handling the matter. Our role is to maintain peace and ensure no further property damage occurs,” Ogunlowo said.
