Marwanu Nuhu Sambo, a student of Al-Azhar Academy in Zaria, Kaduna state, has died after he was given 130 strokes of the cane by the school authorities.

The principal of the school, Mohammed Ibrahim, vice principal Nura Alfatiqa and one other staff member simply identified as Musa, reportedly brutalised the 16-year-old boy to death for being absent from school.

According to eyewitnesses, the incident happened on October 20, 2023, on the school premises. The school is located at Kofar Gayan in the Zaria Local Government Area of the state.

“He was brought to the assembly ground and flogged over 130 times by the vice principal. Then he was dragged to the principal’s office and flogged some more by the principal, vice principal and Musa,” a female student said.

“They pounced on him such that you’ll think he was a thief or some kind of a criminal. In fact, Alfatiqa (Vice Principal) hit him repeatedly on his head,” another male student said.

The Director-General of Kaduna State Schools Quality Assurance Authority (KSSQAA), Dr. Usman Abubakar Zaria, has confirmed the incident and ordered the closure of the school.

“Attention of the Kaduna State Schools Quality Assurance Authority (KSSQAA) was drawn to the unfortunate incident that occurred at Al-Azhar Academy, Kofar Gayan, Tirunku Road, Zaria, Kaduna State. According to the school, the sad incident involved punishment action for absenteeism meted out to a JSS III (Basic 9) student, named Marwanu Nuhu Sambo, which led to the death of the student on Friday, 20th October 2023.

“The KSSQAA, Ministry of Education, representing the Kaduna State Government, was earlier today on a fact-finding visit, seeking to piece together the sequence of events that transpired: from the Al-Azhar Academy, the school where the incident happened, to engage with bereaved family as well as some school mates of the victim. The KSSQAA team then visited the Divisional Police Headquarters, Zaria City, where the principal and the vice principal were being detained.

“The fact-finding team then moved to Hajiya Gambo Sawaba General Hospital, Zaria, where the victim was formally confirmed dead.

“In the interim, guided by the provisions of its establishment Act (amended 2015), the Kaduna State Schools Quality Assurance Authority has closed down the Al-Azhar Academy, Zaria, and the school premise remains sealed, pending the outcome of the investigation,” KSSQAA stated.

However, members of the family of the deceased student are demanding justice for their loved one.

When contacted, the spokesperson for the Kaduna State Police Command, ASP Mansur Hassan said the matter was being investigated.

Credit: Sahara Reporters