A Vice Principal, Mr. Rotifa, from Complete Child Development College in Aule, Akure, Ondo State, was brutally attacked and beaten by thugs. The assault allegedly occurred last week because he prevented an SS3 student, Wisdom Elisa, from cheating by using a mobile phone during the ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).

The sequence of events began when Mr. Rotifa confiscated an Android phone from Wisdom Elisa in the examination hall. Following this, on Thursday, the student's mother reportedly stormed the school, aggressively confronting the management. The school proprietor eventually ordered the phone to be returned to her. Later, the student's brother, identified as an old student of the school, came to the premises to harass Mr. Rotifa and threatened to deal with him.

After school hours, suspicious individuals were observed loitering near the school. The proprietor was informed and advised Mr. Rotifa to report the matter to the police. Mr. Rotifa went to the police station and was accompanied by two officers in their van to search for the boys, presumably for arrest. They were unable to locate them. As they were returning to the station, the group was ambushed. The assailants, believed to be the same loitering individuals, waylaid the police van, stopped it, forcibly dragged Mr. Rotifa out, and subjected him to a severe beating.

Mr. Rotifa was subsequently taken to St. John and Mary Hospital, Odokoyi, for medical treatment. According to the school principal, he has since been discharged but has not returned to his home due to fears of further attacks from the boys. Teachers at the school are also reportedly scared of similar actions. Furthermore, the student's mother has allegedly continued to make threats, including vowing to harm Mr. Rotifa and any school authority if her child is not permitted to cheat during the forthcoming mathematics examination scheduled for next week.

The Ondo State Ministry of Education has acknowledged the incident. The Director of Schools at the ministry, Dairo Obajulaye, issued a statement confirming the events and stated that an investigation has been launched. The state government has vowed to take action regarding the development and is making arrangements to ensure the safety of staff and students of Complete Child Development College for the remaining WASSCE papers. Authorities have affirmed that further investigations and efforts to apprehend the culprits are in progress.