Operatives
of the Department of State Services on Tuesday swooped on a popular secondary
school in Ado-Ekiti, Ola Oluwa Muslim Grammar School, and arrested some members
of staff.
Those
arrested are the Secretary to the Principal, one Mrs. Olagbemi, and an Office
Assistant, one Mrs. Ogunrinde.
They
were arrested for allegedly collecting Permanent Voter Cards from teachers.
The
Principal of Olaoluwa Muslim Grammar School, Ado-Ekiti, Mr. Sunmonu Olaoye,
confirmed the arrest to journalists.
He
said the DSS officers came in some Hilux vehicles and right from the gate of
the school, they started harassing people as if they were on a war mission.
“The
DSS operatives were in black uniforms and also wore black masks and headed for
my office. I wasn’t in the office but I was on the premises to monitor the
ongoing third term examinations. Some of my staff members were in my office
making photocopies of their documents including their PVCs.
“I
allowed them to make use of the school’s facilities because I don’t want
anything to disrupt the ongoing examinations. The DSS people just swooped on
the teachers, seized their documents including their PVCs and took away two
members of staff. They also locked up my office and denied us access to
examination materials we were to give to our students.
“I
don’t know when making photocopies of documents including PVCs became an
offence. One of the operatives even called my number saying I must report in
their office within an hour or I would be treated as a common criminal.
“We
have 123 teachers in the school and the people are resolved on who they will
vote for during the poll regardless of intimidation and harassment.”
Olaoye
calls for the release of those arrested because they did not commit any offence
and that their documents including their PVCs should be returned to them.
“We
are in a democracy and people reserve the right to vote the candidate of their
choice. Harassing or intimidating people is not a democratic practice,” he
added.
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