Hoodlums Loot 50 Windows, Chairs From Enugu Primary Schools Amid Security Collapse

Hoodlums have stolen at least 50 windows and customized school chairs at Practising Primary Schools in Emene town, Enugu East Local Government Area, Enugu State.

SaharaReporters gathered that the schools, Practising School 1-4, located along the old Abakaliki Road beside St. Joseph Catholic Parish in Emene, were renovated and fitted out in 2020 by the immediate administration of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi after a media report highlighted the infrastructural decay in the schools.

Despite the renovation of the schools, which are located in one complex, boasting at least 1,200 pupils, the complex remains unfenced, leaving the school vulnerable, with some mentally ill persons using it as their home.

It was reported that even the state neighbourhood watch group refused to extend their watch over the schools when the heads of the four schools approached them, after they were unable to raise the funds demanded for procuring bullets and other logistics.

Sources told SaharaReporters on Thursday that efforts by the heads of the schools and the Parents-Teachers Association (PTA) to secure the assistance of the traditional ruler of the Emene Community in local security matters were also unsuccessful.

“The heads of the schools, left with no option, approached the State Neighbourhood Watch group in Emene for security of the school complex, but they turned them down, citing outrageous conditions, including buying bullets for them and a certain amount of money,” a source told SaharaReporters.

“The traditional ruler of Emene Community said nobody should disturb him, stating that it is the responsibility of the government, which built the schools, to secure them.”

The source lamented, “In Enugu State, schools are not allowed to collect money from parents; only N500 is permitted as PTA Levy. The money collected as PTA is insufficient to run the schools, let alone pay for private security guards who demand N80,000 monthly for two guards for night watch only.

“Since the advent of Peter Mbah’s administration, even the meagre N25,000 termly payment to school heads for running their schools was stopped.

“Consequently, during this long vacation, hoodlums exploited the school’s vulnerability, invaded, and removed over 50 Alumaco glass windows. Previously, school chairs numbering in the hundreds were also carted away due to lack of security.”

Pictures shared with SaharaReporters on Thursday showed windows systematically removed and visibly countable. Even those windows that had not been removed were badly broken.

The incident highlights the vulnerability of primary schools in Enugu State and the need for improved security measures and funding to prevent such occurrences in the future.

Meanwhile, SaharaReporters’ attempts to reach the Chairman of the Enugu State Universal Basic Education Board (ENSUBEB), Dr. Hyginus Okibe, were unsuccessful, as he did not respond to calls as of the time of filing this report.