Exam malpractice: Police arrest five for assaulting school vice principal in Ondo

The Ondo State Police Command has arrested Dorcas Asije and four accomplices for allegedly assaulting the Vice Principal of Complete Child Development Centre, Akure, Alexander Rotifa, over an examination malpractice dispute.

The command’s spokesperson, Ayanlade Olayinka, disclosed the arrests on Monday in Akure, the state capital.

The assault followed an incident during the ongoing WAEC examinations, where the vice principal caught a student with a smartphone, a device prohibited during exams, and confiscated it. The student is reportedly Ms. Asije’s ward.

The police were actively pursuing Ms. Asije and her alleged accomplices for physically attacking Mr. Rotifa.

Mr. Olayinka stated that a tactical police team, led by the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations), responded promptly to the incident and effected the arrests.

“Following the assault on the Vice Principal of Complete Child Development Centre, the Ondo State Police Command has arrested Mrs. Dorcas Asije and four other accomplices,” said Olayinka.

“The Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations), acting on the directive of the Commissioner of Police, CP Wilfred Olutokunbo Afolabi, led a tactical team to ensure their swift arrest,” he added.

The case has since been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) and will be charged to court once investigations conclude.

Police have urged the public to remain law-abiding and report suspicious activities to the nearest police station.

The Administrative Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Akindele Ige, condemned the attack and warned that the state government would not tolerate hooliganism, thuggery, or examination malpractice.

He stressed that the use of mobile phones or any cheating aids is strictly prohibited during examinations in all schools across Ondo State.

“The Ministry of Education has commenced an inquiry into the matter and is working with relevant stakeholders to get to the root of the incident,” Ige said.