FST College Official Under Fire For Allegedly Raping SS3 Student (Photos)

A store officer at the Federal Science and Technical College (FSTC), Otukpo, Benue State, named Ernest Esly has been suspended for allegedly raping a 16-year-old SS3 female student of the school.

The Federal Ministry of Education has also investigated the matter and said the officer may be dismissed from service if found guilty of the allegation. But social activists are demanding more sanctions.

With a student population of 1,193 students, FSTC Otukpo is one of the 104 unity schools established by the Nigerian government towards fostering national unity and cohesion amongst the numerous ethnic nationalities of the country.

The school’s management had suspended Ernest Esly, who is in his 50s, and evicted him from his residence in the staff quarters over the alleged rape of the SSS 3 student.

Some female students had in March reported that the girl (name withheld) sneaked out of the hostel at night and was seen being dropped the following morning by Mr Esly. They suspected she was into a sexual relationship with the store officer and that she had passed the night with him at his official quarters.

According to one of the teachers, following the report, the school asked its disciplinary committee headed by the vice principal in charge of administration, identified simply as Mrs Agbor, to look into the matter.

“They summoned the store officer but he denied having an affair with the student. But after the girl confessed to having sex with the store officer, in his presence, the disciplinary committee recommended Mr Esly’s eviction from the staff quarters as well as his reposting from the college.

A management staff of the school, who asked not to be named because he is not permitted to speak with journalists as a civil servant, said Mr Esly was given until March 21 next year to vacate his residential quarters in the school and to submit a request for transfer from the school within one week.

Sources at the school, including students and teachers reported that Mr Esly had a habit of using his access to food in the school’s store to lure female students into immoral relationships.