The Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission has arrested an education secretary, a primary school headmaster, and three others for allegedly dismantling and illegally selling school furniture and metal components at a primary school in Kumbotso Local Government Area.
The arrests were made on Saturday after the suspects were caught in the act on the premises of Gaidar Makada Special Primary School. The Senior Special Reporter to the Kano State Governor on Anti-Corruption, Mallam Sani Umar Sani, confirmed the arrests to reporters on Sunday, detailing how the incident unfolded.
According to Sani, some local residents, who were exercising near the school early on Saturday, noticed unusual activity and noise coming from the school grounds. Upon closer inspection, they discovered that school furniture was being dismantled and metal parts were being collected for removal.
One resident, who lives near the school, observed a man accompanied by young boys entering the school early that morning. After a brief interaction with the school’s security guard, the group was allowed into the classrooms. Noticing the subsequent noise, the resident decided to investigate further, finding that the group was dismantling school furniture and assembling the metal components.
The resident immediately informed Mallam AbdulGafar Sanusi Garba, Chairman of the School-Based Management Committee, who, along with the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) Chairman, Mallam Alkassim Muhammad, was unaware of the activity. Both officials had reportedly been removed from their positions by the school headmaster before their tenures expired. The local government education secretary was also notified of their dismissal but had taken no action.
Upon confronting the individuals responsible for dismantling the furniture, they were told that the items were being sold under the instruction of the school authority. The incident was promptly recorded, and the state anti-corruption agency was notified.
A source within the commission, who requested anonymity, revealed that among those arrested was a merchant who had purchased the metals and iron rods from the school furniture. The anti-graft agency has since launched an investigation into the matter, and the suspects are currently in custody.
The source further suggested that this incident might be part of a broader trend of dismantling school furniture for illegal sale across the state. In response, the agency is reportedly developing software to track and inventory equipment in schools, which will alert authorities if any items are tampered with.
