As school resumes for the third term of 2024/2025 Academic Session in Benue State, a cross – section of stakeholders in the education sector in Benue South, has appealed to government and other relevant authorities to ensure peace return to communities recently ravaged by Fulani attacks to allow schools in the area resume and commence academic work.
Speaking With The Voice in Otukpo Benue State, on Monday, the state chairman of Parent -Teacher Association ( PTA), Elder Agbo Godwin, decried the level of destruction wrecked on some communities in Benue South by suspected armed herders which led to displacement of persons and abandonment of such communities. He observed that due to the attacks people fled their homes.
According to him there is no way citizens of such places could go back home to engage in social, political, economic and academic activities if peace is not restored.
“Now, that schools have resumed for the third term, how will schools in the those communities recently ravaged by criminal herdsmen in places like Amula, Okpamaju, Asa, Otobi -Akpa, untonkon and other parties of Benue resume ?,” he asked.
The PTA boss, therefore, appealed to government to do its best to ensure peace is restored to such places.
Also Speaking, the Principal of Ewulo College, Otukpo, and coordinating principal for Benue South, Odeh Idaa, lamented that most people displaced by the recent insurgency in Otukpo Local Government were yet to return home for fear of further attacks.
He noted that as long as the villagers remain displaced, schools in the areas would remain abandoned. The schoolteacher, called for concerted efforts from all stakeholders to restore peace to the ravaged communities, saying, the protection of the community is a task for all.
“My most worry, is that that we are in the third term which is a graduating and promotional examination period. If people in the crisis ridden settlements are not resettled, what will bet the fate of education there?” he queried.
A retired educationist and proprietor of Unique Science Nursery and Primary School, Otukpo, Chief Icha Adole, also noted that school has commenced for the third term, with schools in most Fulani attacked communities not yet in session as result of the absence of the community members who are taking refuge elsewhere. He noted that there was no way schools in such areas could function for now in the midst of the insecurity.
He therefore, appealed to the government, security agents and other stakeholders to ensure such troubled communities are fully protected to enable their members go back home to commence their normal activities, especially, going to school.
The retired director of education, observed that in most attacked villages, only the men are on ground with the women and children in towns or nearby villages.
Also, commenting, a parent, Samuel Egwurube, said that schools could only function in those places attacked by the marauding herders, if the killings and maiming are stopped and the displaced community member go back home.
“They have been uprooted from their ancestral home and are afraid to go back for fear of being killed.
“If the government can provide adequate security and win their confidence that they will be safe in their lands, they will return and all activities including academic work would resume,” he submitted.
All other persons who spoke on the matter, including the Otukpo Local Government NUT chairman, Comrade Linus Angbo; an education officer Ben Ogah, and a student, Peace Isawa, called on the government, security agents and other stakeholders to ensure peace is permanently restored to communities in the state recently troubled by banditry to enable the people to return home so that their wards could commence academic activities.
The Voice’s investigation shows that schools in several communities, including Akpa, Utonkon, and Otukpo, remain closed due to fear of attacks, with pupils and teachers yet to resume classes for the third term.
