The Ojo Police Division and the management of Awori High School, Ojo, are facing accusations of extorting parents following the arrest of 15 students during school hours at the alleged instruction of the school authorities.
The arrests were reportedly initiated after a fight amongst students had ensued the previous term. The school principal eventually involved the police, which led to the detention of the students from Wednesday, April 30, 2025, to the evening of Thursday, May 1, 2025.
Sparking outrage from parents, they claim they were forced to pay for the release of their wards from the station. They each had to pay a sum of N20,000 for bail and an additional N5,000 for undertakings. Three other parents had paid N30,000 each to secure their children’s release in connection with the same issue, and all payments were reportedly made in cash.
One parent, speaking anonymously, said: “We know we cannot recover the N20,000, but we don’t want this to happen again. I feel terrible because the school did not warn or notify us about any misconduct involving our children.
“I came home after work to find my son missing. We searched the neighbourhood throughout the night until one of his schoolmates informed me the next morning that he had been arrested. They were the third set of students to be arrested since the fight last term. Our children, aged between 13 and 17, ended up in a police cell.”
Another parent lamented that her child, who was not involved in the fight, was arrested randomly. “Instead of going after the actual culprits, the principal had the police randomly pick students. I borrowed money to bail my child. I’m a widow, and I lost my husband over 10 years ago. This experience has been heartbreaking,” she said.
The school principal was said to have handed over 11 students to the police, alleging they had caused havoc at another school and injured two police officers. Their statements were recorded, and they signed undertakings to exhibit good behavior. They were later released to their parents in the presence of a school staff member.
On allegations of extortion, the police denied any money was collected for bail, saying, “There was nothing of such.”