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Claim: An X user claimed Kasim Primary School in the Agaie LGA of Niger State had been shut down and teachers arrested over a pupils’ debate video that went viral in February 2024. The claim also appeared on Facebook.
Verdict: False! While the Niger State Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education initially stated that it would investigate the issue, the Ministry’s spokesperson later clarified to DUBAWA that the school was not shut down as alleged.
Full Text
The current economic realities and other challenges in Nigeria have forced some Nigerians to call for a nationwide protest to create more awareness about the hardship facing the citizens and demand a solution from the government.
The National Bureau of Statistics recently issued data showing that Nigeria’s inflation rate in June 2024 increased to 34.19%.
Unhappy with the situation, Nigerians have taken to X (formerly Twitter) to trend hashtags to mobilise for the protest, which is scheduled to start on August 1. The hashtags include ‘EndBadGovernance’ and ‘Tinubu Must Go.’
The proposed demonstration in Nigeria is coming weeks after a similar protest in Kenya which shook the country’s political landscape.
DUBAWA observed that to justify the forthcoming protest in Nigeria, many supporting it have shared various claims to show the perceived issues with the Nigerian citizens.
Recently, one of them, @CrownprinceCom2, an X user with over 50,000 followers, claimed a school – Kasim Primary School – was shut down in Agaie local government area of Niger State by the Department of State Services (DSS). The X user also alleged that all teachers of the school were arrested by the security agency in the process, claiming the action further highlights the need for the proposed protest “to end bad governance in Nigeria.”
DUBAWA observed comments under the post, which shows that some people believed the claim while others doubted its authenticity, as seen here, here, and here.
The video was also shared with the same narrative on Facebook as seen here and here.
Recall that in February 2024, a video went viral on social media showing a pupil of Kasim Primary School who introduced himself as AbdulKabir AbdulKadir expressing anger over the nation’s state.
During a debate organised by the school, the boy argued against the motion advocating for mandatory voting in Nigeria.
Buttressing his point, the vocal pupil said the masses voted for President Bola Tinubu last year to make things better but lamented that the president threw the country into hardship by removing the petroleum subsidy.
He further called on thunder to strike and eliminate all the leaders so that peace could reign in the country.
His submission in the video attracted various reactions on social media. While some users supported the boy, others condemned his use of certain “vulgar words.”
Reacting at the time, Niger State Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education frowned upon the choice of words by the pupil, arguing that it ”is against the values of respect and decorum that should be upheld in educational settings.”
The ministry also noted that disciplinary actions would be taken against the school management, and further investigations would be carried out. An official at the ministry also confirmed to TheCable that the class teacher and headmaster were invited for “cautioning” by the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB).
“They were invited to be cautioned against teaching children violent language. The teachers and students were invited by SUBEB just to caution them to desist from such acts as the pupil is a minor. He shouldn’t be saying that,” the official said.
But was the school shut down and teachers arrested, as claimed by the X user?
Verification
To ascertain the veracity of the claim, DUBAWA contacted Jibrin Usman Kodo, who is the spokesperson of the Niger State Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education. He confirmed to DUBAWA that the school was not shut down, stating that the claim was ridiculous.
He said: “That is fake news. Why will a school be shut down because of one pupil? That’s not possible. No sane thinking person will believe that.”
When asked if any disciplinary action was taken, as stated in earlier reports, Mr Kodo explained that the ministry’s initial statement was just to dissuade other schools from permitting vulgar language in their debates. He said no one was punished for the incident.
“We just stated that to serve as a warning to other schools, so it won’t repeat itself,” he told DUBAWA.
To further confirm the true state of things, DUBAWA contacted Suleiman Mohammed Baba, a resident of Efu Sankuchi, Ekowugi ward in Agaie LGA, who is familiar with the school.
Mr Baba said the school was not shut down, and the teachers were not arrested. He further noted that the boy captured in the viral video is also doing well. The resident also told DUBAWA that the school plans to hold its graduation party.
“From time to time, people have been spreading rumours that the school has been closed and teachers sacked, but I’m telling you, there is nothing like that. The boy is fine, and the school is even planning to have its send-forth party very soon. There is no problem at all,” he said.
Conclusion
The claim that DSS operatives arrested teachers of Kashim Primary School in the Agaie LG of Niger State and shut the school over a debate video is false.
