Akwa Ibom State government has transferred the case of alleged sexual abuse and maltreatment involving an 11-year-old student of Deeper Life High School in Uyo to the police for proper investigation.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Ini Ememobong said that the state government has withdrawn from the matter.
“The Governor of Akwa Ibom State, HE Mr. Udom Emmanuel had last week directed the Commissioner of Education to investigate a complaint of neglect, starvation and molestation by a parent against the Management, Staff, and some Students of Deeper Life High School, Uyo,” he said.
“The Commissioner had immediately swung into action by visiting the parents and the child who is the subject of the alleged infractions. She consequently invited the parents, the boy, school management, the accused students with their parents and named witnesses, to the Ministry of Education for a fact-finding meeting.
“While the investigation was ongoing, the Attorney General of the State notified the Commissioner of Education of the concurrent investigation of the same matter by the Police and the interest of several international Organizations like the United Nations Special rapporteur on Human Trafficking, Mirabelle Center, FIDA Akwa Ibom, Sexual and Gender-based Violence Response Unit of the Ministry of Justice, Akwa Ibom State among others.
“It was therefore advisable for the Commissioner for Education to hands off the investigation and allows the Police, which is the proper government agency to handle allegations of crime, to take over.”
The commissioner reiterated the state government’s commitment to unravelling the truth behind the incidence and would not fail to prosecute anybody found culpable in the matter.
While asking members of the public to be patient and allow for a thorough police investigation, he said the government would take necessary actions once the report of the result is released.
“The medical report from the private hospital where the child had been taken for examination and treatment by his parents has been received, while the child has been taken for further medical investigations at the Agape Sexual referral Center, with the consent of the parents and all interested parties.”
“The State Government is committed to the revelation of the truth of the circumstance and is determined to prosecute anybody found culpable of any wrongdoing.
“At no time did the Commissioner for Education or any staff of the State Government harass or intimidate the parent or the affected student, or anybody connected to the matter,” he stated.
