There is palpable anger and fear in Jalingo after police confirmed the death of a teacher who was stabbed by some of his students on Thursday at The Government Day Secondary School Jalingo.
According to SP Abdullahi Usman, a spokesperson for the command, who confirmed the event to our correspondent, Bassey Sardauna Nkuphee, a teacher at Government Day Secondary School in Jalingo, was stabbed by a gang of former students.
Usman said the police is trailing the assailants to ascertain the motive behind the barbaric act and would stop at nothing until they are arrested and made to face the law.
Local sources said that the former student came to the school earlier to get some things done and was scolded by the teacher for behaving rudely. Subsequently, a feud ensued and the student went out and mobilized hi gang who then attacked and stabbed the teacher to death.
This has stirred up anger amongst the people with the Association of Senior Staff Union of Secondary Schools in the state called on all the teachers in Jalingo metropolis to down tools till the situation is properly addressed.
Chairman of the Union Comrade Abasu Sule told our correspondent that teachers are extremely angry and to avoid a situation where things could escalate, teachers are advised to disengage in academic activities till further notice.
“It is an extremely disturbing situation. Teachers go through a lot trying to impact knowledge in these children who often are very difficult to teach. At the end of the day, your own student will come back and kill you brutally. It is disheartening. We can not allow this to happen.
“Because of the anger that is all over the place, we have advised all teachers to stop academic activities for now. This does not mean schools are to be shutdown. Schools will remain open but there won’t be teaching and learning till when we are certain that things are a bit calm. In the meantime, we urge security agencies to do their job and make sure that all those responsible for this barbaric act are made to face the full wrath of the law. This will serve as deterrent to others”.
Sule said that there have been pockets of threats from students to teachers but no one imagined it will ever deteriorate to the point that things went yesterday.
Meanwhile, the state governor Dr Agbu Kefas has commiserated with the family and colleagues of the deceased over the brutal murder of Mr Bassey Nkuphee.
In a statement issued in Jalingo on Friday and signed by Honorable Emmanuel Bello, SA to the governor on Media and Digital Communication, Kefas orders immediate thorough investigation to what transpired.
“I send my heartfelt condolences to the family and colleagues of Mr Bassey Sardauna Nkuphee who was stabbed by a student in Jalingo. Mr Nkuphee was a teacher with the Government Day Secondary School, Jalingo. He was said to be stabbed by an aggrieved ex student who was earlier scolded by the teacher.
“I strongly condemn the action of the student and order a thorough investigation to be carried out. I am concerned about the illicit use of drugs by some youths that could have led to this dastardly act. While I pray for the repose of the soul of the deceased, I reiterate that no teacher ought to lost their lives while imparting knowledge. This highly regrettable.
“The free education policy is aimed at securing the future of the youths and to ensure the welfare and well-being of both the teachers and students. We understand the need to secure schools and make them safe for learning and we would do our best in this regard.
“This stabbing incidence is an indication of the rot in the society and a wake up call for parents and all stakeholders to intensify their supervisory roles of their wards at home and in the schools”.