Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos was aware of the sex tape of Chrisland School pupils before it came into the limelight on Sunday, immediately ordering treatments for the girl involved, according to internal Lagos authorities’ deliberation memo seen by Peoples Gazette.
The memo said the governor first learnt about the matter a week ago and became alarmed that it could spark another social nightmare for his administration, especially coming in the wake of the Dowen College crisis that stemmed from the controversial death of schoolboy Sylvester Oromoni.
From the briefing memo, Mr Sanwo-Olu heard how a 10-year-old girl was penetrated by five boys between 10 and 13.
The same boys then filmed the encounter and circulated the illicit content on the school WhatsApp group, from where it made its way to Instagram, the governor heard.
The incident happened while the pupils of Chrisland joined their pairs from different parts of the world on a school trip to Dubai to participate in the World School Games between March 10-13.
The governor was briefed that the school management threatened the 10-year-old girl not to report to her parents or she would suffer severe consequences.
The governor deliberated and concluded that an investigation should be conducted immediately, briefing notes said.
“I do not want another Sylvester Oromoni’s case on our hands,” the memo showed as the governor ordered aides to ensure a thorough and prompt investigation and action.
Last week, Lagos officials met with the girl’s parents and took the girl for treatments, the memo said, without elaborating the nature. Typically, a girl suspected of being sexually abused will be sent for pregnancy and diseases tests and psychiatric counselling. The girl’s parents alleged she was taking for pregnancy test without their knowledge.
The preliminary action gave the governor a heads up for his decision to close the school hours after The Gazette identified the school involved as Chrisland and reported that it had suspended the girl and boys involved.
On Monday, the mother said she and the girl’s father learnt about the sexual encounter after another parent informedthem that a video of the incident had been posted online.
She said the Chrisland school failed to properly monitor the activities of the students left under their care during the school trip to Dubai and threatened them when they confronted the school with evidence.
A spokesperson for Chrisland did not respond to calls or messages when The Gazette reached out for comment. But the school had absolved itself from any blame, saying it suspended the students involved because their action was a violation of its longstanding standards.
