The Kaduna State government has withdrawn the licence of Liberation College, Tirkania, Kaduna, following alleged defilement of a nine-year-old pupil of the school by the proprietor, Samuel Ejikeme.
According to the state Commissioner for Education, Dr. Shehu Makarfi, who issued a statement on Tuesday, the school was shut on the directives of Governor Nasir el-Rufai.
He said that the Commissioner for Human Services and Social Development, Mrs. Hafsat Baba, reported the incident, stating that Ejikeme confessed to the offence on tape.
The News Agency of Nigeria quoted him as saying, “This compelled the Ministry of Education to act immediately by withdrawing the licence and shutting down the school.
“The withdrawal of the licence is in line with the power vested in the Kaduna State Quality Assurance Authority Board in Part IV, Section 17(1) of the law establishing the authority.
“The Kaduna State Government is, therefore, calling on all parents and guardians to withdraw their children and wards from the school.”
The commissioner said the state government would continue its investigation to ascertain the veracity of the allegation, while the suspect would remain in detention.
He further said that the governor had equally directed the state Urban Planning Development Agency to look into the school’s development permit and take further action within two weeks.
NAN reports that Baba, who reported the incident on her Twitter handle, @HafsatMohBaba, expressed sadness over the incident.