The head of Musbaudeen Islamiya Arabic school in Ganmo, Ifelodun local government area of Kwara State has been suspended over the cruel manner in which some children were disciplined at the school.
Five pupils, including a female, were cruelly beaten with long canes by five clerics for alleged conduct deemed to be antithetical to the school's standards, according to a viral video.
The children were supposedly punished for allegedly throwing a birthday party at a club house and consuming alcohol, according to the report.
According to a statement published by the Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Hajia Sa'adatu Modibbo Kawu, a government delegation visited the Arabic school on Sunday, October 10, and brought the affected pupils to a public hospital for adequate medical assessment and treatment.
The team comprised the Hon. Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Hajia Sa'adatu Modibbo Kawu; Special Assistant to the Governor on Religion (Islam) Alhaji Danmaigoro; Dr Saudat AbduBaqi of the University of Ilorin; Mallam Lawal Olohungbebe of Kwara State University; and Chief Press Secretary to the Governor Rafiu Ajakaye.
The team was joined by the Divisional Police Officer Ganmo SP Oko Nkama; and a representative of the NSCDC DSC Parati AbdulHameed.
According to the statement, "the government's team attentively listened to the officials of the Arabic school, the parent of the girl in the video, and four other students involved in the unsavoury development."
"Regardless of the explanations of the authorities on the development, the self-confessed consent of the parents and regret of the affected students, the government seriously frowns at the harsh beating seen in the footage.
"As a result, the government has directed the formation of an investigative committee made up of Muslim scholars, leaders, and government officials to look into the matter, while the head of the Arabic school, who admitted to ordering the punishment, has been asked to step aside until the investigation is completed."
"The government has also sent the students to a public hospital for a thorough medical assessment and treatment." This is to ensure that neither of them suffers any physical or mental harm.
"The government appeals for calm while the committee works and submits a report for further action." The government expresses its gratitude to the Ganmo Muslim community for their assistance to the team."