The Ondo State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has arrested a chemist shop operator over the alleged collection of blood samples from newly admitted students of CAC Adu Memorial Secondary School, Oke-Aro, Akure.
The suspect, identified as Adigun Kazeem, allegedly operated the kiosk where blood samples were collected from the students before the samples were reportedly taken elsewhere for laboratory analysis.
The NSCDC said the development came to its attention on Monday, September 21, after its Safe School Unit received a report from the Ondo State Ministry of Education, Science and Technology concerning the alleged illegal blood collection at the school.
The command’s spokesperson, SC Daniel Aidamenbor, said officers visited the school and began investigating the circumstances surrounding the reported collection of the samples.
According to him, preliminary findings showed that the students were allegedly given laboratory results after their blood samples were collected, with the documents bearing the address of Zion-Gate Medical Diagnosis Service.
Aidamenbor said officers traced the address indicated on the laboratory reports but could not locate the purported medical laboratory at the stated location.
He added that a man identified as Olugbenga Olusola Foge, who was allegedly responsible for the laboratory aspect of the operation, had not been arrested and was currently being sought by the command.
The NSCDC spokesperson disclosed that the arrested chemist operator remained in custody and was expected to assist investigators in locating Foge and identifying other persons who might have been involved in the alleged operation.
He also said the principal of the school, Mrs Olajumoke Ekpo-Jide, had been questioned and made a written statement to investigators, adding that she denied the school's involvement in the blood collection.
The development followed the state Ministry of Education's earlier disavowal of the alleged exercise, with its spokesperson, Bisi Lawani, stating that blood testing was no longer a requirement for admission into schools in the state.
The NSCDC said its investigation was ongoing as efforts continued to establish the full circumstances surrounding the alleged collection and testing of the students' blood samples.
