Alleged sexual abuse: Police to arraign Deeper Life School officials

Etim Effiong

The Nigeria Police Force, Akwa Ibom State Command, says it will soon arraign some officials of the Deeper Life High School over the alleged sexual abuse of an 11-year-old student of the school in Uyo. 

It was learnt that some officials of the school after attending a meeting which was summoned by the Commissioner of Police, Amienghene Andrew, were detained in the police cell, according to Reference Magazine. 

Counsel to the parents of the boy, David Okokon, on Wednesday morning said the boy was abused sexually by two senior students at the Deeper Life High School. He added that he would be in court today (Wednesday) for the arraignment. 

Okokon said: “They (the police) are arraigning those people found culpable, this morning.” 

It is unclear for now how the police carried out their investigations, the extent of individuals’ culpability and what charges the police would file against the suspects. 

The Police Public Relations Offcer in the state, Odiko MacDon confirmed said on Wednesday that the police were preparing to arraign ‘those found culpable.’ He also confirmed the arrest and detention of some of the school officials. 

“This morning, we are trying to tidy up (investigation), we are dotting our i’s and crossing our t’s. If we are not through this morning, they will be arraigned tomorrow,” MacDon stated. 

It will be recalled that the victim’s mother, Deborah Archibong, had said some senior students of the Deeper Life High School abused her son sexually when the school authorities switched him from his dormitory to another dormitory filled with senior students. 

 “They will remove his boxer and push their legs and hands into his anus. Look at a child I sent to school, he came back with a broken anus,” Mrs Archibong said in a video which has gone viral on Facebook and Twitter. 

Archibong explained that her son was frequently starved and beaten up by the senior students. The Deeper Life High School is owned by a Pentecostal church, The Deeper Christian Life Ministry.