5 students arraigned for attempted rape

They were arraigned for their involvement in the sexual assault of two female students of another school, Falomo Senior High School.

Of the five boys, one of them is above 18 years and will be tried in a Juvenile Court. The rest will stand before a Juvenile court. If found guilty, the 18-year old might serve up to 14 years in prison.

Michale Mathew broke this news on Twitter about the boys going on sexual assault rampages on school girls. We spoke to residents around the school. One woman, who's lived there for over 15 years said:

"Every year, when these SS3 students write their final exams, we see them celebrating, and ripping their uniforms, amongst other things, but as for Ireti Grammar school, there was never a case before now of any form of trying to rape other students."

According to Michale Mathew, some of the boys were armed with scissors, cutting through the girls' uniforms.

Two of the culprits were identified simply as George and Abiodun.

The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, said this on Wednesday, May 10regarding the incident:

“The police have interacted with the five suspects, one of the victims and the eyewitness. The incident raises questions of criminality and morality, which have been considered and examined by the stakeholders. An offence has been committed and the suspects will be taken to court to serve as a deterrent to others.

“We are putting all our files together with the Ministry of Justice and appropriate charges will be taken to court not later than Thursday (today) with the suspects. Issues of the ages of the pupils also came to play.

“Four of them will be taken to juvenile or family court, but one of them, who does not fall into the category of children, will be arraigned in an open court.”

Also, it was learned the girls have been located and confessed to being assaulted. Also, evidence has shown that the boys not only wielded scissors, but knives.

A statement by the National Council of Child Rights Advocate Nigeria (NACCRAN), counselling and treatment will begin immediately for the girls.

Parts of the statement dated Thursday May 11 read:

"There was also eye witness account of how the boys wielded not just scissors but knives as well. Evidence was also gathered from the scene with torn uniforms in the area. The Commissioner of Police and the Deputy Governor are now working to ensure justice is served.

"Counselling and treatment has been arranged for the girls. We have also realised that there is a code of silence. The Police and the Ministry of Education will be working to break this code of silence.

"Following this, the boys have been arraigned before the court today.

"Thanks to everyone who signed this petition, the Commissioner of Police, the Deputy Governor and her crew and to Ms Michale Mathew, our hero. Victory is ours. We will continue to follow the case till justice is served."

The students were granted a bail of N500,000 and the case adjourned till June 14, 2017.