The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Adamawa State has detained 10 secondary school graduates over their alleged involvement in controversial “signed out” celebrations.
According to a statement issued by the command’s spokesperson, DSC Nyako Amidu Baba, the students were arrested for actions considered disruptive to public order during activities marking the end of their secondary school education.
The suspects were apprehended by the NSCDC Safe School Response Squad after intelligence indicated that students from Capital School, GDSS Demsawo, Doubelli and Damilu were engaging in acts such as painting their bodies, tearing school uniforms, fighting in public and other behaviour capable of causing unrest.
The command noted that the trend has become a growing concern for parents, school administrators and residents, recalling that the Adamawa State Ministry of Education had previously prohibited the practice.
It further alleged that some individuals used the celebrations as an opportunity to pose as students while stealing mobile phones and other valuables from members of the public.
Investigators also discovered that one of those arrested, despite wearing a school uniform, was not a student, while several others were found to be in SS1 and SS2 rather than final-year classes.
State Commandant CC Nasiru Saleh has ordered a full investigation to determine the extent of the incident and identify anyone else connected to the alleged misconduct.
