The Department of State Security DSS and the Nigeria Police have
began an investigation into an alleged abuse of some pupils of the Abuja
School for the Deaf in Kuje.
The security agents were alerted recently after suspected ritualists
invaded the school, abducted and molested some pupils, while initiating
some others into cult groups.
One of the parents of the affected students who spoke on Brekete (a
breakfast programme on Human Rights radio) in Abuja on Tuesday February
5th, said that her son who attends the school had been molested by
teachers in the school.
It was gathered some parents also brought the matter to the attention
of the Federal Ministry of Education who contacted the Federal Capital
Territory Administration, the government authorities overseeing the
school.
The Federal Ministry of Education asked the DSS carry a detailed
investigation and it was discovered that no case of molestation was
found at the end of the investigation by the DSS.
Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Sonny Echono,
told the Nation that after a detailed investigation, it was discovered
that no single sign of molestation was found.
The Permanent Secretary said the government again visited the school
on Tuesday with a team of medical doctors and ordered a thorough
examination of some of the pupils alleged to have been molested. Echono
said 40 pupils were examined by a team of doctors and gynecologists and
no sign of any form of molestation found on their bodies.
“We have done full investigation, involved the DSS and did
surveillance for ten days. We embedded DSS operatives among the staff
claiming they were posted there just to be watching day and night in the
school to try and find out if anything unusual is going on.“I called 64 different parents to find out if there had been any
case, even of a child dying in the school not to talk about missing.
There was no such case.“We did 40 examinations today physically with their parents, covered
no such single case out of the 40 that we did today. Medical doctors and
gynecologists, did the test today and not a single case have been
found. We are going to address a press conference when we finish.”
A statement issued by the Assistant Director (Information), FCT Secretariat, Anthony Ogunleye said:
“The attention of the Education Secretariat has been drawn to the
alleged abuse of a pupil of the Abuja School for the Deaf Kuje as
broadcast by an Abuja based radio station. The Secretary for Education
is deeply concerned by the very serious allegations especially since the
well-being of a minor is concerned. While the highly emotional
broadcast has prompted an investigation by the Nigerian Police, the
Secretary for Education has also ordered an internal investigation into
the matter.“While we await the result of the investigation by the law
enforcement agencies we want to assure all parents and guardians that
their children and wards are quite safe in our custody. We therefore
enjoin them to remain calm and all enquiries can be sent to either the
Secretary for Education or the Chairman, FCT Universal Basic Education
Board.”
When contacted, the Spokesperson for the FCT Command, DSP Anjuguri
Manzah, simply said: “We are aware of the case and we are investigating
it.”