Teachers protest over alleged beating of colleagues by DSS

HUNDREDS of teachers under the aegis of Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria on Tuesday stormed the premises of the Cross River State House of Assembly and the governor’s office to protest against the beating of their colleagues at the Federal Government Girls College by operatives of the Department of State Security Service (DSS).

Armed operatives of the DSS had last Thursday stormed the premises of the Federal Government Girls College and allegedly beat up some teachers for flogging the daughter of a female DSS official.

Angered by the development, the protesting teachers who thronged the streets of Calabar presented a protest letter to the Speaker, John Gaul-Lebo and the State governor, Prof Ben Ayade respectively.

The protest by members of the association, which is an affiliate of the Trade Union Congress, also attracted officials of the state chapter of the Nigeria Union of Teachers.

In the letter titled: A case of threat to lives, molestation and abduction of student and attempted murder on teacher in FGGC was signed by Chairman and Secretary of ASCSN, Udofa V.M and Emore M.E respectively.

The letter which was delivered to the speaker and governor, urged the government to properly investigate the matter.

The state Chairman of TUC, Mr Clarkson Otu, who presented the letter on behalf of the teachers said, “We are here to protest against the brutal attack on our colleagues at the FGGC, Calabar by officials of DSS on February 2. We know that the DSS are not under you, but we have come to register our grievances.

“We know you will use your good office to ensure that the matter is not swept under the carpet. This matter is before you and we want justice. We want the matter to be properly investigated so that those behind this brutality are punished.”

The Clerk of the House, Mr Bassey Ekpenyong, who received the letter on behalf of the Speaker, assured the teachers that the matter would be addressed.

He condemned the action of the DSS officials, stressing that the action was uncalled for.

“This letter will get to the teachers unadulterated. We will ensure that justice is done,” he sa

Mr. Etam Eno, a director at the office of the State Security Adviser, who received the letter on behalf of the governor, promised that a meeting will be convened between the management of FGGC and the DSS to resolve the issue. ‘’The governor was already aware of the development and justice will be done’’