Hoodlums burn down school buildings in Benue

Some yet-to-be identified hoodlums have allegedly burned down school buildings in Okpoga district of Okpokwu Local Government Area of Benue State.

The affected institutions include the Central UBE Secondary School, Ugwu-Okpoga, and Junior Secondary School, Abossa.

Witnesses said the incident, which happened a few days ago, was a deliberate act of mischief.

The hoodlums, according to a resident, who declined his name on print, may be out to settle some political scores because this was the second time such an incident would happen in a short while.

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Police spokesperson for Benue command, CSP Catherine Anene, did not respond to calls put through her telephone on the matter.

However, the senator representing Benue south senatorial district and Senate Minority Leader, Comrade Abba Moro, at the weekend visited Okpoga in Okpokwu LGA over the incident.

Moro condemned the burning down of the classroom blocks at the Central UBE Secondary School, Ugwu-Okpoga, and Junior Secondary School, Abossa, by arsonists.

He wondered what would warrant anyone to burn down school buildings that serve as breeding ground for children.

The senator charged the people to jealously protect and guard public properties in their domains and promised to undertake the rebuilding of the damaged school buildings.

Moro, also in a statement by his Media Adviser, Emmanuel Eche’Ofun John, visited the Nigeria Police Divisional Headquarters, Okpoga where he commended the DPO and his men for their efforts in maintaining law and order in the land. He lamented the dilapidated nature of the command and promised to renovate it.