NSCDC Arrests 10 Secondary School Graduates Over Banned ‘Signed Out’ Celebration in Adamawa

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Adamawa State has arrested ten secondary school graduates for participating in the banned end-of-school celebration popularly known as “Signed Out.”

The arrests were carried out by the NSCDC Safe School Response Squad following intelligence linking students from Capital School, GDSS Demsawo, Doubelli, and Damilu to activities that disrupted public order.

According to the Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSC Nyako Amidu Baba, the suspects engaged in painting their bodies, tearing school uniforms, street fighting, and other acts capable of causing public unrest.

The festivities reportedly took a more dangerous turn this year, with allegations that some participants wore disguises to rob members of the public of mobile phones and other valuable items.

Preliminary investigations revealed that one suspect arrested in a school uniform was not actually a student, while several others apprehended were non-graduating students in SS1 and SS2.

The Adamawa State Ministry of Education officially banned the “Signed Out” tradition in 2025 due to rising concerns over violence, property damage, and public disturbance associated with the annual events.

State Commandant CC Nasiru Saleh has ordered a comprehensive investigation into the incident to identify all parties involved. He emphasized the Corps’ commitment to working alongside school authorities and stakeholders to enforce the ban, prevent academic disruptions, and maintain safety across learning environments.