The police in Benue State have arrested a suspected arsonist for allegedly setting ablaze a block of classrooms at RCM Primary School in Moi-Igbo, Mbalom in Gwer East Local Government Area of the state.
Bemdoo Atoba, the suspect was said to have set fire to the classroom’s block to cover up his tracks after he allegedly stole a computer from the school building.
The spokesperson for the Benue Police Command, SP Catherine Anene, who confirmed the incident at the weekend, assured that the matter would be thoroughly investigated.
“The suspect is in custody and the investigation is ongoing,” Anene said.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of Benue State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Comrade Joseph Utse, has condemned the burning down of the classroom block at RCM Primary School, Moi-Igbo, Mbalom by Atoba who is a member of the community.
Utse expressed his displeasure when he visited the scene of the incident with SUBEB management shortly after the Head Teacher of the school, Timothy Ukurodu, explained to him that the suspect is known for criminal activities in the community and that he (suspect) allegedly burgled the school, went away with a computer system and burnt down the block to make it seem the computer got burnt alongside other equipment.
The head teacher further disclosed that the suspect, Atoba, was traced by the youths and caught with the stolen computer system.
But, the SUBEB chairman said burning the school was a demonstration that the community was not ready for education as he promised to give feedback of the meeting to the governor.
Earlier in his welcome address, Education Secretary, Gwer East Local Government Education Authority, Kadev Joseph appreciated the SUBEB chairman for taking time to come and see things for himself. He expressed dissatisfaction with the behavior of the criminal, promising that he must face the wrath of the law.
On his part, Tyoor Mbalom, HRH Saa-kuma Tov, who spoke through a community opinion leader, Henry Watsav, noted that elders of the community were considering banishment of the hoodlum and requested that the criminal attitude exhibited by the young man should not deter the state government from allocating projects to the community even as he described the criminal as a bad egg.
The Mbalom Youth leader, Natu Christian, who spoke for youths of the affected community, narrated how the youths played a critical role towards rescuing most of the chairs and tables that were in the affected block despite the fire.
