The Ogun State Ministry of Education has suspended a secondary school teacher for allegedly punishing and beating a student, identified as Monday Arijo, leading to his death.

In a statement on its X handle on Sunday, the state government stated that the school’s principal, Tamrat Onaolapo, has been queried over the incident.

It said, “The Ogun State government, through the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, has suspended a teacher alleged to have beaten and punished one Master Monday Arijo, an SS2 student of Obada Grammar School, Obada, Idi-emi, which reportedly led to his demise.”

The state government said the incident happened on Friday. 

“The principal of the school, Mrs Tamrat Onaolapo, was promptly queried for allowing corporal punishment to be used on the pupil against the established rules and regulations in the state.

“The principal was given 24 hours to explain her actions and why disciplinary actions should not be taken against her for acting against the instructions of constituted authority,” it said.

In a condolence letter to the bereaved family, the government vowed to ensure justice is served.

The letter signed by the ministry’s permanent secretary described the late Master Arijo as an exceptional pupil who would be missed by his colleagues, the school, and the state.

An activist identified as Adetoun (@justadetoun) narrated the incident in a video on her Instagram handle on Friday, saying the student died after the teacher allegedly gave him 162 strokes of the cane over his response to an instruction not to break a dustbin he (the teacher) brought to the class.

According to her post, the student jokingly told the teacher it was bought with students’ money. The teacher reported to the principal, who ordered the punishment of the student before the beating took place.

Ms Adetoun also alleged that the teacher and some staff present at the scene failed to take the student to the hospital for medical attention, and he had died by the time they did.