A Vice Principal at a private secondary school in Akure, Ondo State, has become the latest victim in the struggle to uphold exam integrity in Nigeria, after he was brutally assaulted for preventing malpractice during the ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
Mr Rotifa, an administrator at Complete Child Development College, Aule, Akure, was hospitalised after he was attacked by suspected thugs, allegedly hired by the mother of a student whose phone he had confiscated during an examination.
The incident, which has drawn sharp condemnation from education stakeholders, highlights growing concerns around the safety of teachers and exam officials enforcing discipline in schools.
According to sources within the school, the confrontation began when Mr Rotifa caught an SS3 student, identified as Wisdom Elisa, with an Android phone during a WAEC examination—an act clearly prohibited under exam regulations. The phone was immediately seized.
What followed, however, was a shocking escalation. The student’s mother reportedly stormed the school premises, confronting management and demanding the return of the phone. Despite the school’s disciplinary stance, the proprietor instructed that the device be returned in a bid to de-escalate tensions.
The matter took a darker turn later that day. The student’s brother—said to be a former student of the school—allegedly returned with a group of boys to intimidate and harass the Vice Principal. Mr Rotifa subsequently reported the threats to the police, who accompanied him in a patrol van to investigate and make possible arrests.
However, on their return from the failed attempt to locate the suspects, the group reportedly waylaid the police vehicle, dragged Mr Rotifa out, and assaulted him in the presence of law enforcement officers.
“He was beaten severely and rushed to the hospital,” said a source at the school. “Though he has been discharged, he has not returned home due to fears for his safety.”
The Ondo State Ministry of Education has condemned the attack and pledged to enhance security in schools for the remaining duration of the WASSCE. In a statement, the Director of Schools confirmed that investigations are underway and assured that the perpetrators will be brought to justice.
Educational experts are calling for urgent protective measures for teachers and examination personnel, stressing that such incidents, if left unchecked, could demoralise educators and undermine the sanctity of Nigeria’s examination system.
“This is not just an attack on a teacher—it’s an attack on the values of discipline, integrity, and the future of education in Nigeria,” said a representative of the Teachers’ Rights Watch, a non-governmental advocacy group for educators’ welfare.
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