*as parents besiege police station, demand immediate release

By Lucky Akozo

UGHELLI – The Police in ‘A’ Division Ughelli, Delta State has been urged to release the arrested female teacher of a popular private school in Ughelli, Ughelli North local government area over an alleged defilement of a three years old child of the school .

The incident happened on Friday, January 17, 2025, when a parent of a Nursery One pupil at a certain school in the council area (name withheld) alleged that their child had been assaulted.

Speaking to newsmen in her office after the enlarged meeting of the Parent and Teachers Association (PTA) of the school, the head teacher, Mrs. Precious Oteheri, disclosed that the said child is a one-week-old pupil of the school.

According to her, the Parents of the child came to the school to pick up her kid themselves sound and healthy after the school closing hour.

She stated further that after some hours, the parents of the pupil stormed the school premises with some persons who alleged that their child was assaulted.

“I carried the child (the pupil) and examined her properly, and I discovered there was a blood stain in her skirt. I asked her how bloodstains were in your school skirt, but she could not talk.

When asked what the efforts of the school management to unravel the truth behind the incident, she said the school management took proactive steps by taking the child to the hospital for medical examination.

“The institution Director and teacher took the child to the government hospital for proper medical examination at the instances of her parent.

“While the medical examination report was yet out, the parent of the pupil contacted men of Nigeria police from ‘A’ Division, Ughelli, to arrest the institution’s Director, Dr. Isaiah Edhuze, and the class teacher, Mrs. Chinaza Ozuligbo, and detain.

“The Director was released after coughing out an undisclosed huge amount of money, leaving the class teacher, Mrs.Chinaza Ozuligbo, in the police cell on the order of the police”.

Speaking to journalists in his office, Dr. Isaiah Edhuze described the incident as unfortunate, adding that the school has been in existence for over twenty years and is known for discipline, good moral upbringing and free from examination malpractices.

“Mrs.Chinaza Ozuligbo, a mother of four children, has been an outstanding staff of the school and self-discipline staff many students of the school passed through her.

“The Police should speed up their investigation into the alleged assault and make the medical report public; the report should contain when exactly the child was abused and how she was abused”.

Some Concerned Parents, under the auspices of concerned parents Association of the school, condemned the Delta State police, Ughelli Division for the continuous detaining a nursing mother in its detention facility for ever a week without having access to her children for an alleged case that she is yet to be proven guilty of.

The concerned parents called on the Delta State Commissioner of Police, Delta State government and Committee for Defence for Human Right to carry out a discreet investigation into the alleged defilement of a three years old child.

They appealed to the Delta State government and the commissioner of police, Delta State command for the immediate release of the alleged suspected female teacher.