Children’s Day Parade: 5 Students Arrested With Charms, Alcohol

Five secondary school students were on Sunday arrested at the venue of the Children’s Day Celebration in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Southwest Nigeria, for being in possession of charms and intoxicating wines.

They were arrested by officials of the National Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, at Moshood Abiola Stadium, venue of the celebration, following a search on them as hundreds of students were trooping into the stadium to be part of the fun.

Four of the arrested students, P.M NEWS reliably gathered, were from Rev Kuti Memorial Grammar School, while one came from Lantoro Grammar School, Abeokuta.

On enquiry, the suspects could not give satisfactory answer about the items found on them, but admitted that they came to the stadium to be part of the celebration. They were, however, whisked away for further interrogation.

The arrested students, whose ages range between 14 and 17 years, were still in custody of the authorities at press time, as suspicion thickened that they might be members of secret cults now mushrooming in high schools.

The NSCDC’s spokesperson, Olanrewaju Kareem, confirmed the arrest, explaining that the students were found with various charms and alcohol while in school uniform.

Kareem said on interrogation, the culprits could not give satisfactory explanation about the items found on them.

“From investigations conducted so far, they may likely be cultists. But investigation is still ongoing and we are equally working in conjunction with the Ministry of Education to get rid of crimes committed by students,” he said.

—Jamiu Yisa