Just in: Schools shut as #EndSARS protests mar full resumption of academic activities in Lagos

The Lagos State Government has directed all pupils/students in public and private schools to stay at home following the tension generated by the #EndSARS protests.

Commissioner for Education, Mrs Folasade Adefisayo, who issued the directive on Monday, said the safety of the pupils/students, parents, and all staff working in schools is paramount at this critical period.

This came as Academic activities were seriously affected in some schools in Lagos state on Monday as the ongoing nationwide protests against police brutality and bad governance continue took heavy toll on the commercial city.

The state had prepared for full resumption of academic activities on Monday as schools were previously closed to curb the spread of coronavirus in the state.

Commissioner for Education, Mrs Folasade Adefisayo, had during a briefing last week Monday said the physical resumption, which was for the 2020/2021 academic session, would include pupils in pre-primary, daycare, kindergarten, and nursery schools.

However, many students and teachers encountered difficulty in getting to schools in the state on Monday.

There was also violence in the Yaba area of the state when some hoodlums attacked operatives of the Rapid Response Squad.

Some of the pupils and teachers trekked long distances to get to schools.

This is as #EndSARS protesters mounted roadblocks in strategic locations in the state in a bid to express their displeasure.

A public school teacher, Ajeigbe K, said, “I was in school but many of my colleagues could not come; especially those from Agege, Ikorodu and Mile 12.

“A few pupils who stay close to the school came and those of us available taught them.”

A pupil of Government Technical College, Agidingbi, Olasunkanmi, added, “They (protesters) blocked the road. When I was coming from Ebute-Metta, I got vehicles in the morning, but I was stranded when I was returning home. The transport fares also increased so I went to stay with my sister that stays around my school.”