By Ado Oyeyemi
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has arrested a chemist shop operator, Adigun Kazeem, over the alleged collection of blood samples from newly admitted students of CAC Adu Memorial Secondary School, Oke-Aro, Akure, Ondo State.
The NSCDC Ondo State Command also said the school’s principal, Mrs Olajumoke Ekpo-Jide, had been questioned and made a written statement concerning the incident.
The command’s spokesperson, SC Daniel Aidamenbor, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, saying the principal was assisting investigators in establishing the circumstances surrounding the alleged blood sample collection.
According to him, Ekpo-Jide denied any involvement by the school, stressing that the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology had prohibited the use of blood tests as a requirement for admission into schools.
Aidamenbor said the investigation began on September 21 after the command’s Safe School Unit received information from the state Ministry of Education, Science and Technology about the alleged illegal collection of students’ blood samples.
He said NSCDC personnel subsequently visited the school and discovered that a kiosk or chemist shop located close to the school was allegedly being used to collect blood samples from students.
The samples were reportedly taken to a laboratory, identified as Zion-Gate Medical Diagnosis Service, after which the students were allegedly given laboratory results, usually the following day.
The NSCDC spokesperson said investigators traced the address printed on the laboratory results, but could not locate the laboratory at the stated address.
He added that a copy of one of the laboratory results had been recovered by the command.
Aidamenbor identified Olugbenga Olusola Foge as the person allegedly responsible for the laboratory aspect of the operation, saying he was currently at large.
He added that Kazeem, the owner and operator of the chemist shop allegedly used to collect the blood samples, remained in custody and would assist investigators in tracking Foge and identifying other persons connected with the case.
READ ALSO
- AFCON 2027Q: How Simon inspired my goal against Madagascar — Usor
- BREAKING: Ondo varsity workers suspend strike, resume Tuesday
- Matchday 2 of PAMOJA 2027 AFCON Qualifiers Start Today
- ‘Waist Trainers Made You Lose My Child’ — MC Fish Tackles Anita Joseph
- KO and Lyrics: The legacy of Kehinde Olaosebikan in Ibadan
The state Ministry of Education, Science and Technology had earlier distanced itself from the alleged blood testing exercise at the school, maintaining that such testing was not authorised as part of the admission process.
