By Sunmola Olowookere
A disturbing development recently jolted Akure, the Ondo State capital, when students of Aquinas College and St. Michael’s Catholic Grammar School engaged in a violent clash that disrupted public peace and sent shockwaves through the community. The incident has once again drawn attention to the rising wave of indiscipline and aggression among secondary school students in the state.
A clash that shattered the peace
According to eyewitnesses, the confrontation between the two schools escalated from a minor disagreement — reportedly linked to rivalry over sports or social media taunts — into a violent street fight. Students were said to have wielded sticks, stones, bottles and other dangerous weapons, turning the usually calm areas of Alagbaka and Araromi into a war zone.
Traders and passersby ran for safety as shops hurriedly closed to avoid looting or damage. It took the intervention of security operatives and school authorities to restore order. Several students sustained injuries while some properties were destroyed in the process.
The incident, which has become a subject of serious concern, underscores a worrisome trend of student violence that is gradually spreading across secondary schools in Ondo State.
An alarming trend of youth violence
The clash between Aquinas and St. Michael’s is not an isolated case. In recent years, similar incidents have been reported in other parts of the state, including Okitipupa, Ondo and Ore. What used to be friendly inter-school competitions in academics, sports and debates has now degenerated into open hostility and physical confrontation.
Education observers and sociologists have linked this trend to several factors such as peer pressure, poor parental supervision, moral decadence, exposure to violent media content and the weakening of disciplinary structures within schools.
Even more disturbing is the emergence of cult-like groups among teenagers who imitate the violent practices of campus cults in tertiary institutions — a development that poses a grave threat to public safety and the future of the state’s youth population.
Failure of discipline and moral guidance
At the heart of the problem lies the gradual erosion of discipline in both homes and schools. In the past, schools were sanctuaries of learning and moral training where errant behaviour attracted prompt punishment. Teachers commanded respect, and parents supported disciplinary actions.
Today, many parents defend their children even when they are clearly in the wrong, while school authorities are often reluctant to mete out sanctions for fear of backlash or litigation. This has created an environment where many students believe they can act with impunity.
To reverse the tide, both parents and educators must work hand in hand to instill values such as respect, empathy and responsibility in young learners. Guidance and counseling units should be strengthened in schools to provide emotional and behavioral support to troubled students.
Government must take a firm stand
The Ondo State Ministry of Education must not treat this incident as a routine disciplinary matter. It should be seen as a wake-up call to enforce stricter supervision and monitoring of student activities across schools.
The Commissioner for Education, Professor Igbekele Ajibefun while speaking on the ugly development, has promised to investigate the matter.
Beyond punitive measures, government should also reintroduce moral and civic education, strengthen the inspectorate division to monitor compliance with discipline and collaborate with security agencies to ensure early detection of youth gangs or violent groups forming within school communities.
Community leaders, religious organisations and old students’ associations should also play a role in mentoring and sensitising current students on peaceful coexistence and conflict resolution.
A call for urgent action
Also contributing, a psychologist, Ben Owude explained that the danger inherent in the recent clash is far-reaching. Beyond the immediate injuries and property damage, such violent behaviour, if unchecked, can shape a generation that sees violence as a legitimate means of resolving conflict.
“This would have dire consequences for societal peace and national development. All stakeholders — parents, teachers, government and community leaders — must therefore rise to address the root causes of this menace before it festers beyond control.
As the saying goes, “the child we fail to train today will become the adult that terrorizes society tomorrow. The time to act is now,” he stated