AbdulAhad Otuoze
THE management of Rock ‘N’ Garden Montessori International Schools, Lokoja has refuted claims of a rumour being spread on the social media through blogs few days ago that the school is being used to promote rape and sexual violence related activities.
According to a press statement signed and made available to newsmen in Lokoja by the school Proprietor, Mrs Ule Iduh, on Sunday, stated that the school which has its motto as building good foundation for the upcoming generations cannot descend so low to promote what they preached against, noted that the same rumour circulating on the social media did not happen within the school premises.
She said both the alleged perpetrator and victim were no longer under the custody of the school when the alleged offence was committed, stressing that the said teacher, Abdulkarim Sule had resigned from the school in 2018 to join another organization in Kastina state while the girl left the school in 2019 after her WAEC examination.
She further noted that those spreading the rumour on the social media are only using the name of the school to curry favour from members of the public and also to tarnish the good image of the school that is known for excellence since it commenced operation in 1999, over two decades ago.
“It is also good to note that the said incident did not occurre in the school premises, because the victim could not substantiate her claims of the real location both of them met as the science laboratory of the school is always under lock and key when not in use and visitors are usually not permitted to gain access,” she said.
According to her, the school authority in swift reaction suspended the principal, Nathaniel Ali in order to pave way for a discreet investigation into the case when she mentioned the principal’s residence. It must be noted that she is alleging that the incident occurred after her WAEC examination when she was no longer under the custody of the school but the custody of her parents’.
She said the school cannot allow a ward to be sexually violated after it had collected school fees from the parents/guardian promising to train them to become the future leaders of our great nation.
The management advises parents to be vigilant to know the whereabouts of their wards at all times because, how can one explain how a student who is no longer writing WAEC find her way to the house of her principal?
The management reiterated its determination and commitment to continue to provide a platform to train and build good foundation for the upcoming generations and would support in totality whatever the authority will do to pursue the case to a logical conclusion.
