Less than one week after Chrisland School in Victoria Island Garden City told one of the parents that her daughter was suspended for taking part in “improper behaviour” after playing the truth-or-dare game, describing her as a “major participant” Lagos State Government announced on Monday the shutdown of all Chrisland Schools in the State following an alleged sexual violation involving some pupils during an international trip.
But the mother of the 10-year-old girl has accused Chrisland School of threatening to kill her daughter if she opens up.
It was gathered via a video released by the girl’s mother that while the girl was being raped by her peers, someone recorded the act and posted it online.
The school has at least seven branches in the State. The alleged violation happened when Chrisland school was in Dubai in March to take part in the World School Games, a four-day annual competition with schools from all over the world. The statement read, “The attention of the Lagos State Government has been drawn to the alleged sexual violence case involving students of Chrisland school. “It is pertinent to note that all allegations are being investigated by the relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies, including Ministry of Education, Office of Education QualityAssurance, Ministry of Youth and Social Development, Ministry of Justice and the Lagos State Domestic & S#xual V#olence Agency, whilst the criminal allegations have been escalated to the Commissioner of Police. “We are committed to ensuring that adequate medical and psycho social support is provided. “This is to reassure members of the public of the State Government’s commitment to safety and child protection, especially in ensuring that all child-centered institutions within the state, formulate and implement policies and systems that are compliant with the Executive Order (NO.EO/AA08 of 2016), Lagos State Safeguarding and Child Protection Program. “We also use this medium to remind the general public on the implications pertaining to engaging in any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a child commits an offence and is liable to custodial sentence of fourteen (14) years. “This includes “producing, distributing, receiving, or possessing an image of child p#rnography” In the meantime, all Chrisland schools within Lagos State are hereby closed, pending further investigations”.
Chrisland school had suspended the 10-year-old female pupil involved in the act after accusing her of taking part in a truth-or-dare game in Dubai.
Pupils from the elite high school were in Dubai in March to participate in the World School Games between March 10-13, 2022. The school was celebrated for carrying out an impressive display and winning about 34 medals.
In the April 14, 2022, letter to the girl’s parent, authorities at Chrisland School in Victoria Island Garden City told the girl’s father that she took part in “improper behaviour” after playing the truth-or-dare game, describing her as a “major participant”.
“In line with our core values centred on discipline, Chrisland Schools have zero tolerance for any improper behaviour and misconduct,” the school said in a letter signed by its principal, Georgia Azike.
The school said other schoolmates who took part in the game had been suspended, adding that the girl and her parents did not cooperate during its investigation.
“Consequently, [name redacted) is hereby placed on indefinite suspension until you as the parents ensure that she is punished, adequately counselled and rehabilitated,” the school said.
The letter was obtained hours after social media claims about the matter emerged. Friends of the father said a pregnancy test had been conducted and the school initially hushed up the case.
The development came weeks after Sylvester Oromoni died under controversial circumstances at Dowen College, another elite school in Lagos.
ALSO READ:Respite For Dowen College As Lagos Govt Clears School, Students, Staff Of Wrongdoing
However, the mother, while narrating her daughter’s ordeal stated that the school threatened her daughter not to talk to anyone about the incident or else they would kill her, in an attempt to cover up the act.
“They have been threatening my daughter that if she speaks out, they are going to kill her; that it is men’s world that she should keep quiet, she shouldn’t disclose to me,” she wrote.
She continued, “About a month ago, I was on my way out of Lagos. So, I got a call from Mrs. Azike, the head teacher from Chrisland; she called me (to say) that she needed to see me. I said I would come when I returned, and two days later, I came to the school. When I got to the school, I met her with two other women in her office.
“They wanted me to know my daughter, whom I left in their care that they took to Dubai, kissed a boy, and the boy kissed her, and they found out that they got that kissing thing from ‘truth and dare’, which I said I would curtail her. They said (what) they wanted me to do is to take her phone so they won’t continue practicing, and I said OK.”
She also said some weeks later the school’s principal Georgie Azike invited her to a Zoom meeting where Mr. Akin, the meeting host, preached forgiveness.
According to her, the incident remained unclear until another parent showed a video of her daughter engaging in sexual acts with her schoolmates, an incident she did not know about until the woman spoke to her.
“So please, I’m begging Nigeria to help me because Chrisland was trying to hide this issue. They were trying to push us out of the way, and my daughter was psychologically insane.
“Please, I need help as a mother. I’m begging fellow Nigerians to help me. The part that Chrisland played to cover up this rape issue.” she narrated.
