The Anambra State Police Command has launched a manhunt for a teacher accused of allegedly flogging a 12-year-old pupil to death in Adazi-Ani, Anaocha Local Government Area of the state.
The command said the teacher fled after the incident, while efforts were underway to apprehend the suspect and unravel the circumstances surrounding the boy’s death.
The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday, saying the search was being coordinated under the Command’s Safe School Initiative Operations headed by the Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations, Harrison Oruruo.
According to Ikenga, operatives attached to the Neni Divisional Police Headquarters responded swiftly after receiving a report of the incident on Thursday evening.
He said the victim was immediately rushed to a hospital for treatment but was confirmed dead by a medical doctor.
“The body of the deceased has been deposited in the hospital morgue for preservation and autopsy,” the statement read.
Ikenga added that preliminary investigations revealed visible marks of violence on different parts of the boy’s body.
He said photographs of the injuries were taken as part of the ongoing investigation.
“The case is under active investigation, and all necessary steps are being taken to ensure that anyone found culpable is brought to justice,” he stated.
The police spokesperson assured the deceased’s family and the public that the investigation would be thorough, diligent and transparent.
He reiterated the command’s commitment to ensuring the safety of schoolchildren through its Safe School Initiative.
Ikenga appealed to members of the public with useful information that could aid the arrest of the fleeing teacher to report to the nearest police station or contact the Anambra State Police Command through its emergency lines.
The incident has triggered fresh concerns over the continued use of corporal punishment in schools and renewed calls for stricter measures to safeguard children in learning environments.
Police said investigations were ongoing to establish the full circumstances surrounding the pupil’s death and ensure that those responsible are prosecuted.
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