A’Ibom school shut over threat to principal to recall suspended student

Saviour Ekpe, Uyo

The Akwa Ibom State government has shut down Uyo High School over threat by some students to principal to recall a suspended student.

The students, who are alleged to be cultists, on Wednesday morning, displayed some fetish items at the entrance of the principal’s office.

The chairman, Akwa Ibom State Secondary Education Board (SSEB), Dr. Ekaette Ebong Okon has announced the immediate closure of the school.

CitizenDiary gathered that items such as fresh pepper, palm oil droplets, peeled/cooked egg, palm front, red cloth, tied rope, N10 note as well as some inscriptions, were found at the entrance of the staircase that leads to the office of the principal and senior secondary three classes.

CitizenDiary learnt that some students who were suspected to be cultist were suspended by the school authority while some senior secondary two students, who could not meet up with the school requirements to be promoted into SS III, have on many occasions disguised themselves as students of the school in school uniforms unleashing mayhem to the school, students, residents and passers-by on regular basis.

Further findings show that the Mobil fuel station opposite the school was vandalised.

The CCTV at the fuel station had shown the students of the school responsible for the vandisation.

Our source said that some of the suspects that vandalized the fuel station were arrested by the police while others are still at large.

A senior government official (name withheld) in his comment proposed a complete closure of the school by the government while all the teachers and other staffers redeployed to other schools to avert incessant crises in the school.

Residents of the area who described the incident as barbaric called on the state government to act fast as they are the major victims whenever the students arr on the rampage.

One of the respondents, who pleaded anonymity maintained that the nearby three schools of, “Uyo High School, Ewet Technical School and Christian Secondary Schools always connive to unleash mayhem in the community and we are not safe.”

Government officials, who were at the early visit to the school include Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Mrs. Rose Orok; Director, Education Development Services, Barr. Edem Selong and a Director in the State Secondary Education Board (SSEB), Mr. Eton along with the Village Head of the Community and the school Principal General, Elder Michael Iwok.