The Chairman of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) in the Alimosho area of Lagos State, Taiwo Lawal, popularly known as Eniba, has been accused of leading six men to brutally assault a 70-year-old school proprietor in Ogun State. The shocking attack reportedly took place after the proprietor reprimanded Eniba’s 10-year-old son for arriving late to school.The incident occurred penultimate Thursday at Meteorite Standard College, located in the Ayetoro area of Itele, within the Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area of Ogun State. What began as a routine morning inspection by the school’s owner, Mr. Joseph Omokunle Afolayan, soon turned into a scene of violence that left students traumatised and teachers helpless.
According to eyewitness accounts, the school’s morning assembly had ended around 9:00 a.m., and students had dispersed to their various classrooms. As part of his daily routine, Mr. Afolayan began inspecting the premises to ensure orderliness and discipline a practice he said he had maintained since founding the school in the year 2000.
Around 9:15 a.m., Afolayan noticed a young student, later identified as Sodiq Aremu Lawal, a JSS 1 pupil, entering the school compound long after the official resumption time of 8:00 a.m. The boy was reportedly untidy and had failed to properly tuck in his shirt another violation of the school’s dress code.
The septuagenarian proprietor, known among students for his insistence on discipline, immediately called Sodiq and asked why he had come late. But the boy ignored him and kept walking.
Surprised by the boy’s defiance, Afolayan moved closer and instructed him to kneel down as punishment for lateness. Rather than comply, the boy turned and bolted out of the school premises through the pedestrian gate.
Barely 20 minutes later, the peace of the school compound was shattered when Sodiq returned this time with his father, Taiwo Lawal (Eniba), and six unidentified men.
Eyewitnesses told The Nation that Eniba, a known transport unionist and OPC leader in Lagos, stormed the premises in anger and confronted the elderly school owner. Without allowing Afolayan to explain what had happened, the men descended on him, punching, kicking, and dragging him to the ground.
Teachers and senior students reportedly screamed and pleaded with the attackers to stop, but their pleas fell on deaf ears. The six men allegedly shouted that no one could challenge them because their leader was an OPC boss.
“They beat him like a criminal,” said one senior student who witnessed the attack. “Blood was coming from his nose and head. Everyone was crying.”
Afolayan said the beating lasted for nearly 20 minutes before older students intervened to pull the men away from him. By then, he had sustained multiple bruises and deep cuts on his face and body.
Speaking from his home after receiving medical treatment, the visibly shaken proprietor recounted the ordeal.
“It was one of the most humiliating experiences of my life,” he said. “I have run this school for over 20 years, and never in all that time have I been assaulted like this.”
“When Eniba arrived, I tried to explain that his son came late and refused to obey instructions. But before I could say a word, he shouted that nobody could reprimand his child. He told me openly that he is the OPC chairman in Alimosho and that even the police could not touch him.”
“Immediately after that, he and his boys began beating me mercilessly. They rained punches on me, and I fell to the ground. Blood was coming from my nose and ears. One of my teachers tried to stop them, but they pushed her away.”
According to Afolayan, one of the attackers had a jackknife that fell to the ground during the scuffle.
“They dragged me on the floor, kicking me as they did. It was the students who finally came out to rescue me. I was in terrible pain and could barely stand.”
The matter was immediately reported to the Ayetoro-Budo Divisional Police Headquarters, and officers were dispatched to the scene. However, by the time they arrived, Eniba and his men had fled.
Afolayan was later taken to the State General Hospital, Ota, where he received treatment. A medical report from the hospital confirmed that he sustained multiple bruises and facial injuries from the assault.
But efforts to arrest the suspect hit a roadblock when police claimed they could not cross into Lagos State, where Eniba resides.
“The DPO told me it would be difficult to arrest him because his house is under Lagos territory, just a few metres from the school,” Afolayan said. “I couldn’t believe it. Does that mean anyone can cross state lines and go unpunished after committing an assault?”
He added that since filing his complaint, Eniba had ignored several police invitations.
“The DPO said he had been calling him, but he refused to answer or show up. I have spent thousands of naira on hospital bills, yet the man is walking free.”
Afolayan revealed that this was not the first time he had clashed with Eniba. He described the OPC leader as a “serial troublemaker” who had previously confronted him for enforcing school discipline.
“The first time I had an issue with him was a few years ago,” Afolayan recalled. “A female student was caught playing truancy and roaming around nearby streets during school hours. When I scolded her, she ran home and came back with her mother and Eniba. He threatened me, saying I was playing with fire.”
“The second incident was when I sent his son home because he was owing school fees. He came to the school, shouting that I had no right to send his son away.”
“This latest attack, however, is the worst. He brutalised me before my teachers and students. I could have died that day.”
Despite his injuries, Afolayan said he chose not to send Eniba’s son away when he resumed school the next day.
“The boy came to school as if nothing had happened. I didn’t punish him. He’s just a child. But what his father did was beyond comprehension.”
The elderly school owner is still recovering from his injuries. He showed our correspondent the bruises on his face and arms and complained of persistent eye pain.
A medical report from the State General Hospital, Ota, reads:
“The patient was said to have been assaulted by one of his students with the assistance of some set of thugs. He sustained multiple bruises on the face and body.”
“My eyes are still reddish,” Afolayan said, showing visible inflammation. “Doctors advised me to undergo further tests to prevent cataract infection. My vision is still blurry.”
Teachers and students at Meteorite Standard College say they remain traumatised by the experience. One staff member who asked not to be named said many pupils now fear any confrontation, even when discipline is required.
“It’s difficult to maintain order now,” the teacher said. “The students saw that even our proprietor was beaten for enforcing discipline. Some of them have lost respect for authority.”
When contacted, SP Omolola Odutola, spokesperson for the Ogun State Police Command, referred inquiries to the Divisional Police Officer in charge of Ayetoro-Budo Station, Mr. Akindele Okunoye.
In a telephone interview, Okunoye confirmed the incident but claimed that the matter had since been resolved amicably.
“It is true that we could not arrest the suspect because his residence falls under Lagos territory,” Okunoye said. “We explained to Pa Afolayan that there are operational protocols guiding arrests outside a station’s jurisdiction.”
“However, the case was settled on Wednesday after Eniba sent some men to plead with the victim. Both parties later came to my office, and they agreed to settle amicably. The suspect also agreed to cover the victim’s medical expenses.”
News of the assault has sparked outrage among parents and community members, who condemned the attack as “barbaric” and a dangerous precedent for school discipline.
Many residents of Itele called for the intervention of higher authorities, arguing that “amicable settlement” was not enough for such a violent offence.
“This is a clear case of assault and intimidation,” said a parent who lives near the school. “If this man is truly an OPC leader, then he should be setting an example — not leading thugs to beat up a 70-year-old educator.”
“We want justice,” another parent added. “Today it’s Mr. Afolayan; tomorrow it could be someone else.”
Despite the so-called settlement, Afolayan maintains that the incident has left a permanent scar both physically and emotionally.
“I started this school to build the future of children,” he said quietly. “But after what happened, I now live in fear. If a father can come with thugs to beat a teacher, what message does that send to our children?”
As of press time, efforts to reach Taiwo Lawal (Eniba) were unsuccessful. He reportedly declined phone calls from journalists and responded to a text message with a single exclamation: “Aah!”
While police insist that the matter has been resolved, many in the community believe it exposes deep flaws in law enforcement coordination and raises troubling questions about impunity, especially when alleged offenders wield local influence.
For now, Mr. Afolayan continues to recover not only from his physical wounds but from the emotional blow of being assaulted in the very institution he built to nurture discipline, respect, and learning.
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