Abuse, molestation of junior student: Deeper Life High School arranges reconciliatory meeting

Ini Billie, Uyo

Deeper Life High School, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State has arranged a reconciliatory meeting between students involved in the abuse and molestation of a junior student, Don-Davis Archibong.

Archibong’s mother, Mrs Deborah Archibong has taken to the social media to expose the ill-treatment of her son by some senior students and teachers, as well as protest the alleged cover-up of the cruelty by the school’s management.

Following the incident, the parents of Archibong had initiated a suit with number HU/197/2021 in the State High Court where two senior students, Shalom Ibikunle and Ola Feyisetan, the Principal, Mrs Ndidi Solomon and some teachers were sued for abuse, molestation and neglect of their son while living in the hostel.

Speaking at the meeting where the school presented memorabilia to Don-Davis Archibong as a parting gift, the State Overseer of Deeper Life Bible Church, Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Emmanuel Amaeze, pleaded with everyone to learn how to live in peace.

Amaeze, who was represented by Pastor Timothy Adewuyi, said the time of disagreement has passed and described students of Deeper Life High School as people with distinction.

On her part, Archibong’s mother, Mrs Deborah Archibong expressed delight that all the children involved in the case were alive to witness the occasion.

She appreciated the principal, teachers, and students for their cooperation in the reconciliation, saying she has seen Christ in all of them.

“For the parties that were involved which I am one of them, I would say we should all be on the learning side.

“Don-Davis came to Deeper Life High school for discipline and moral. He decided to come to Deeper Life High school because of those two things, and even looking at the students, you can see discipline in them.

“Let us forget the devil came in; everything will be fine. The good news I want to trend from social media is that I like the cooperation of teachers. I see Christ in every one of them, and I know that Deeper Life High school has come to stay,” she stated.

While speaking, lead counsel to Deeper Life High School, Taiwo Kupolati (SAN) commended the High Court Judge, Honourable Justice Ntong Ntong for initiating the peace process.

Kupolati also appreciated all the parties for embracing peace and advised parents to seek and boldly enforce peace as anybody who does not have peace is not entitled to a good life.

“The Honourable Judge suggested that the parties should settle the case outside court. It is to the glory of God that after two conferences, both parties and individuals concerned, the school, and the children involved, came together to reconcile.

“We got a consent judgement based on the resolution of the parties for togetherness and their clear desire to unite the students.

“The realisation and conviction of the parties to secure and live a peaceful life, seeing that these students are the future of this generation, makes it imperative to resolve the misunderstanding. Today is to celebrate, and affirm the principle of peace,” he stated.

Also speaking, Counsel for the claimant, Sampson Awoji, thanked Deeper Life High school for keeping to the terms of settlement which involved the reconciliatory meeting, presentation of memorabilia Archibong, and the non-institution of any further civil or criminal action in future by the claimant on the basis of the facts in the suit.