The Ogun State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of a student-teacher, Adeola Adeyemo, in connection with a tragic incident in which an 11-year-old pupil lost her right eye.
The victim, Alao Idera, is a sixth-grade student at Owiwi Nursery and Primary School, located in the Obada Oko area of Ogun State. Adeyemo, who is in her final year at Tai Solarin University of Education in Ijebu Ode, was serving as a student-teacher at the school as part of her teaching practice when the incident occurred.
According to the police public relations officer, Omolola Odutola, the incident happened during a classroom interaction. Adeyemo, who was preparing for the school’s upcoming end-of-year party, was holding a cane, a common practice for teachers. As a group of primary six pupils approached her, one of them, Idera, rushed towards her, causing the cane to inadvertently pierce the student’s right eye.
The severity of the injury prompted immediate medical attention, and Idera was swiftly taken to the Federal Medical Centre in Abeokuta, the state capital. Unfortunately, due to the extensive damage to the eye, surgeons were forced to remove Idera’s right eye during surgery.
Following the incident, Adeyemo was quickly arrested and is currently being interrogated by the police. While the situation was clearly an accident, Odutola stressed that the teacher did not strike the student or act in any way that would have directly caused harm. “The child did nothing wrong, and it was simply a case of the teacher holding a cane while preparing for the party, when the child rushed toward her and the cane inadvertently caused the injury,” she explained.
In a further development, it was reported that after realizing the gravity of the situation and the loss of the student’s eye, Adeyemo became overwhelmed by guilt and attempted to take her own life. Fortunately, her suicide attempt was thwarted, and she was rushed to the hospital for medical attention. She is now reported to be stable.
The police have assured that they are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident. They are taking into account the fact that Adeyemo is a student still learning the ropes of teaching, and the incident appears to have been a tragic accident. However, the case has drawn significant attention due to the serious consequences of the teacher’s actions, however unintended. The police are likely to determine the next steps after a thorough investigation, including whether further legal action should be taken.
This incident has sparked conversations about the safety of students in schools and the responsibility of teachers and school staff to ensure a secure environment for learning. The Ogun State Police Command has called for a full review of the circumstances to ensure that such an event does not repeat in the future.
