Teen Gets Community Service for Wielding Cutlass in Ibadan School Fight

IBADAN, OYO STATE – An 18-year-old student, Fawaz Hamzat of Olunde Community Secondary School, was on Tuesday sentenced to three months of community service by a Chief Magistrate Court sitting at Mapo in Ibadan.

The sentence comes after Hamzat was found chasing a rival secondary school pupil with a cutlass during an interschool fight.

Chief Magistrate O.O. Latunji delivered the judgment, stating that Hamzat’s guilty plea and the evidence presented by the prosecution were sufficient for conviction.

She sternly warned the convict against future criminal activities, emphasizing that a stiffer punishment would follow any re-offense. “However, to serve as a deterrent to others, Hamzat is sentenced to three months of community service,” the Magistrate declared.

Prosecuting counsel, Inspector Oluseye Akinola, informed the court that the incident occurred on May 22, at approximately 3:00 p.m., in the Olunde area of Ibadan. Hamzat was apprehended by neighborhood security personnel and concerned community members who found him in possession of a cutlass, actively pursuing students from Olunde Grammar School, a rival institution, amidst a school brawl.

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The prosecutor highlighted that Hamzat’s actions contravened Section 249 of the Criminal Code Cap 38 vol. ii law of Oyo State, 2000.

This case sheds light on the re-emerging issue of interschool rivalry in the less urban areas of Ibadan, which often escalates to the use of dangerous weapons. Such incidents were prevalent decades ago, and the recent occurrence signals a concerning trend that requires immediate attention from authorities and community leaders to prevent further escalation and ensure the safety of students.