The academic community of Government Day Secondary School Model, Jalingo, Taraba State, has been thrown into a state of tension for the teachers after some students murdered a teacher, Bassey Sardauna, at the institution.
It was reported that the deceased was stabbed by a former student of the school who is yet-to-be-arrested.
The Police Public Relations Officer, SP. Abdullahi Usman, who confirmed the incident said, “a former student conspired with his cohorts to stab his teacher, who was inside Keke NAPEP.
“They had an altercation with the teacher and in the process stabbed the teacher. While taking him to hospital, he was confirmed dead”
In an interview with one of the teachers in the institution, the teacher who pleaded anonymity said, “We are working in fear in this school. The psychological effect of Bassey’s tragic death is with us. The road leading to this school has lots of hideouts and we are afraid the bad boys will one day attack the school.
”The memory of the late Bassey still lingers. We were all sitting under this tree that fateful day before he left and was attacked and killed. There is a need for trauma healing for all staff and students who were close to him before his murder.
“We have not seen any seriousness on the part of government and security agencies to address the issue of security in our schools and we are worried” she lamented.
Two additional teachers, Musa Tanko from Government Science Secondary School Jalingo and Tarwa Terfa from Government Day Secondary School Sunkani, shared concerns about the vulnerability of most schools in the state to potential attacks due to the absence of perimeter fencing, making them easily accessible.
The teachers urged both the government and community leaders to collaborate in ensuring the provision of security measures in schools throughout the state.
They emphasized the importance of addressing illicit drug use among the youth while concurrently working towards enhancing school security.
A student who was on parade when the late Bassey had an altercation with the former student, while recounting what transpired said, “The late Bassey was on duty on that day and had assembled us according to our classes. We all also lined up according to groups. All four groups in the school were lined up and he was checking to ensure that we were in order when a former student arrived with a friend and walked through the lines to gain access to the administrative block.
“Bassey asked him why he was passing within the students instead of behind the assembly but as he turned to do as the teacher pointed out, his friend asked him not to obey the instruction.
“The late Bassey flogged him with a cane and commotion started. We were told that the former student came to the school because he wanted to sign his Air Force application form and his father had earlier called to ask for assistance from one of the teachers.”
Upon resuming duties at the school following the incident, the school principal, Mr. Roberts Moses, said that he was transferred to the school shortly after the event occurred.
“The Vigilante personnel I was told left the school shortly before closing time. When the deceased said he wanted to leave and discovered the boys were outside, the Vice Principals made several calls to get the Vigilante back but did not get a response.
“At closing time, the teacher was escorted out of the gate closer to the main road, not knowing that the hoodlums were hiding somewhere close to the main road. The school was then informed that one of our teachers was attacked, on rushing there he was bleeding seriously and was rushed to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead by doctors.”
He mentioned that upon the school authorities becoming aware of the disturbance, they promptly summoned the local Vigilante group in the area to safeguard the school premises until the end of the day.
