NSCDC ADAMAWA COMMAND ARRESTS 10 SUSPECTED “SIGNED OUT” STUDENTS OVER PUBLIC NUISANCE, ASSAULT AND ALLEGED THEFT

By Alhassan Haladu Yola.

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Adamawa State Command, has arrested ten (10) secondary school students suspected to have been involved in acts of public nuisance and other misconduct associated with the celebration of the completion of secondary school final examinations, popularly known as “Signed Out.

Public Relation Officer Adamawa state Command DSC Amidu Nyako Baba discloused this in statement made available to Newsmen in Yola.

The suspects were apprehended by the Command's Safe School Response Squad following reports of disruptive activities involving students of ( Capital School, GDSS Demsawo, Doubelli and Damilu) who allegedly engaged in painting their bodies, tearing their school uniforms, engaging in street fights and other activities capable of disrupting public peace and order.

The trend, which has increasingly become a source of concern to parents, school authorities and the general public, had earlier attracted the attention of the Adamawa State Government, which, through the State Ministry of Education, issued a directive against the practice last year.

However, the Command observed that this year's activities appeared to have taken a more disturbing dimension, with reports alleging that some individuals dressed in the said manner were involved in the dispossession of unsuspecting members of the public of their mobile phones and other valuables.

In the course of the operation, one of the persons arrested was found wearing a school uniform but was reportedly not a student. The Command also discovered that some of those arrested were not final-year students, as initially presumed, but were still in SS1 and SS2.

The State Commandant, NSCDC Adamawa State Command, Commandant Nasiru Saleh, has directed that a comprehensive investigation be conducted into the circumstances surrounding the activities and to identify other persons who may have been involved.

Commandant Saleh reiterated that the Command will not tolerate any act capable of disrupting the peaceful conduct of academic activities, threatening public safety, or undermining the security and wellbeing of students and members of the public.

He further directed the Safe School Response Squad to intensify its engagement with school authorities and other relevant stakeholders to strengthen preventive measures and ensure that schools remain safe and conducive environments for teaching and learning.

The Command is also working with relevant school authorities to establish the identities of students and other individuals involved in the activities. Where sufficient evidence is established, appropriate legal action will be taken against those found culpable in accordance with extant laws.

The Commandant urged parents and guardians to counsel their children and wards against participating in activities that could expose them to criminality or jeopardise their future. He also appealed to school authorities, community leaders and members of the public to support security agencies by promptly reporting suspicious activities around schools and other public places.

Commandant Nasiru Saleh assured the people of Adamawa State that the NSCDC remains committed to protecting schools, safeguarding students and staff, maintaining public order, and ensuring that the academic environment is not disrupted by acts of criminality or public nuisance.

The Command further called on students to celebrate the completion of their examinations responsibly and lawfully, reminding them that the completion of an academic milestone should be a moment of pride and gratitude, not an avenue for violence, intimidation, destruction of property or criminal behaviour.