The Ogun State command of the Nigeria Police Force has announced the arrest of a student-teacher in connection with an incident that resulted in an 11-year-old pupil losing her right eye.
The injured pupil, Alao Idera, is a sixth-grade student at Owiwi Nursery and Primary School located in the Obada Oko area of the state.
Reports indicate that the teacher, Adeola Adeyemo, is a final-year student at the Tai Solarin University of Education in Ijebu Ode, where she is currently completing her teaching practice at the school.
In a statement regarding the incident, the police public relations officer, Omolola Odutola, explained that Adeyemo was reportedly holding a cane in the classroom when a group of primary six pupils approached her, leading to the cane accidentally piercing the pupil’s right eye.
The injured student was promptly taken to the Federal Medical Centre in Abeokuta, the state capital, where the damaged eye was surgically removed.
“The child was immediately taken to the Federal Medical Centre in Abeokuta for treatment. Following this complaint, the teacher, Adeola Adeyemo, a 400-level student from Tai Solarin University in Ijebu Ode who was in teaching practice, was swiftly arrested and is currently being interrogated,” she said.
She, however, clarified that the teacher did not flog the student, nor did the student do anything wrong.
“It was simply a situation where the teacher, preparing for an end-of-year party, was holding a cane, as teachers often do.
“However, when the student rushed toward her, the cane accidentally caused injury to the student’s eye. The 11-year and old primary six student underwent surgery at the Federal Medical Centre, where her right eye was removed.
“After realising that the student’s right eye had been removed, the teacher attempted suicide but was quickly rushed to the hospital where she is currently stable,” the police spokesperson noted in the statement.