Two pupils of the Community Primary School, Isheri Olofin, Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State, have been arrested for allegedly setting their school on fire.
Police identified the minors as six-year-old Wahis Musa and nine-year-old Malik Iliasu, the duo of whom live in Isheri Olofin.
The Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, Omolola Odutola, said the kids were arrested by the Ojodu-Abiodun Divisional Police Officer of the Ogun State Police Command.
They were apprehended for malicious damage and arson, Odutola said on Monday.
“Two pupils of Community Primary School, Isheri Olofin, one Wahis Musa, aged 6 years, and Malik Iliasu, aged 9 years, both residents of the Isheri Olofin community, have been apprehended for setting fire to their school and properties of the school on October 29, 2023,” Odutola stated.
According to her, a chief in the community had reported the incident at the police station, saying Musa and Iliasu gained access to one of the unlocked classrooms at the school; they gathered books left behind by the teachers and pupils and allegedly set them on fire.
The anti-crime team and police detectives had visited the scene “and brought the alleged children to the police station for interrogation.”
Odutola said investigations are ongoing and police are making inquiries on how to contact parents “as this is a very serious crime for these children to get themselves involved with.”
She assured that the police will unravel everything behind the incident and update the public if there are other people who may have instigated the youngsters.
