THE high fence seemed to have been a big hurdle for them to scale and gain entry into the school premises. Determined to execute their filthy plans and urged on by fierce passion for evil deeds, they went there, armed with axes, under the cover of the night, and made a big hole in the fence. And through that hole, they crawl like rabbit entering its hole, into the school premises every now and then to vandalise doors, windows, marker’s boards, offices, PVS and get books torn and scattered on the floor.
Before leaving, they defecate in the classroom, pass urine and ‘entertain’ themselves with Indian Hemp. Welcome to Uwa Model Primary School, Ikhueniro, on Benin Agbor Road, close to the Bypass.
When teachers and pupils resume in the morning, they are welcome by offensive smell of human faeces deposited in the night by men whose conscience has been nailed by Satan.
Teachers and pupils are compelled to spend the first 30 minutes – cleaning up the mess in order to make the classrooms comfortable for learning. Few days after, the scenario is repeated, it has indeed become a recurring decimal.
If you think hoodlums are doing this to Uwa Model Primary School because it is on the outskirts of Benin, what about Ogbe Primary School, a stone throw to Oba Palace,….Ezoti Primary School, behind St. Paul Catholic Church on Airport Road Obaseki Primary School Erenseye Primary School Benin Agbor Road, etc.
The story is the same.
When Weekend Observer visited some public schools during the week, what we discovered was distressing. It looks like there is a network of evil men driven by a passion to rubbish the unprecedented developmental variable of the Oshiomhole alternative and give Edo State a bad name..
Speaking with the Weekend Observer, some of the teachers and heads of school fought back tears. “is it the way to say thank you to Governor Oshiomhole who has done so much for the state……………. Why are they doing this to us …………” one of the teachers wailed.
And as she spoke, I observed that her eyes were turning red and when she brought out hand handkerchief to clean up her face I quickly took my Cell phone camera and clicked away. But she pleaded “sir please don’t publish that photo……………..” in a voice that whirled up my spine and sent my heart racing for thoughts.
Irrespective of political affiliation, there is a convergence of opinion that Oshiomhole has re-enacted a new chapter in infrastructure development philosophy as exemplified by the massive rehabilitation of public schools and roads reconstruction. The question is – do we want to go back to that period when public schools were taken over by weeds and animals because of their state of decay?
WHY are some people inclined to perpetrating evil? What joy do they derive from inflicting pain in our collective strivings and heritage?
If they have nothing to contribute to enhance the progress of society, why then should they be attracted to the destruction of public investment in our future.
That is exactly what these hoodlums are doing – hoodlums some prefer to call Lucifer’s children, who under the cover of nights invade public schools, causing terrible destruction and turning classrooms into toilets and bathrooms.
Teachers and pupils resume in the morning to meet faeces and urine in their classrooms, even as cigarette stubs and particles of weeds suspected to be Indian Hemp litter everywhere.
In this report, a cross-section of Benin residents bare their mind.
Serious Distraction – Ebhohimen Sarah
That a place meant for education is now being used as a rendezvous by criminals and hoodlums is a serious threat, not only to the pupils and students of these schools, but the teachers, parents, and the state in general.
The act of vandalizing schools can cause a serious distraction in the learning process of these students or pupils. One cannot expect a pupil to focus completely on their academic work knowing that his/her school is being or has been vandalized.
Also, parents are discouraged from allowing their children go to school knowing that the school is no longer safe.
Not to forget that vandalizing schools is a taint on the efforts of the state government to enhance education. Therefore any one caught in this act must be doled proper punishment in order to discourage those with the intentions of doing such.
Very, Very Painful: Akhidenor Musa Charity
With the arrival of Governor Adams Oshiomhole, Edo State has experienced infrastructural development both in schools and other areas. What public schools used to be then before his arrival, was a state of comatose. Today, public schools in Edo State have been transformed and are even competing with many private schools in the state.
How painful and sad to see that the same people who were crying for change; the same people who were singing praises of the development; the same people the governor is trying to help by ensuring that they get the best quality education by learning under a conducive environment; who are supposed to be grateful to the governor, are the same people who have turned hoodlums. They go about vandalizing the schools the governor has succeeded in transforming. These hoodlums abuse the development by destroying textbooks, by turning these schools into their toilet where they pass out feaces and urine. Some of these hoodlums have also contributed by turning these schools into refuse dump sites. The act is high level of wickedness. No man in his right state of mind will see a good thing and destroy it. The people are insane. If they are doing it to frustrate the governor, then that is stupidity in the highest order.
It’s high time the governor put a stop to this madness. The governor should ensure that public schools are fenced and have 24 hours security watch over them. Again, anybody that is caught urinating, vandalizing , or dumping refuse near or around any public school environment should be arrested and face the penalty.
Community leaders should also protect the schools in their communities so that their children will benefit from the reason why the development was carried out.
They Hate Progress – Eromobor Glory
Recently, it has been reported that there have been some barbaric and irresponsible act of the invasion of government schools by some unknown persons. They have made the destruction of things in the schools their daily activities.
They enter into the schools at night; destroy the chairs ad tables that the students make use of in the classrooms during lectures. They tear the students text and note books. They even go as far as entering the principal’s offices, teacher staff rooms to destroy their tables, chairs and so on. They even destroy important documents being kept in the offices. Before the emergence of the governor of Edo State, Governor Adams Oshiomhole, educational status of Edo State as a whole was nothing to write home about. But now we can say that the education status has improved by over 80%. Is it that those who indulged in this act don’t like good thing? Don’t they want the peace and progress in the state? Or is it that they find joy in destroying the labour of the state government to make the state good and better place.
Condemnable – Wisdom Ehigiator
The efforts of the Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole on infrastructural developments in the state is unprecedented. Within few years, Edo State has experienced rapid infrastructural development.
However, this worthwhile effort of the Governor is being threatened by the malicious and wicked acts of vandals.
Today, public schools are being vandalized by miscreants. Properties of schools including, chairs, windows and other infrastructure are daily being destroyed by these miscreants.
This evil is condemnable and despicable. It cannot be ascertained the reason for this vandalisation. However, it appears to be the efforts of certain persons to frustrate the work of the government.
Vandalism is condemnable in all forms because it leads to the destruction of government’s public properties. It is the responsibility of government to build infrastructure, but it is the obligation of citizens to protect and sustain the work of government.
When public schools’ buildings are destroyed we deny our children the opportunity to enjoy quality education. It is not enough to build structures, the structures and facilities must be sustained.
The government should put in mechanism to ensure the protection of public schools’ buildings. Vandals must be arrested and prosecuted. Also, citizens should be responsible and watch out for these miscreants.
This is Evil – Nwaiku Anita
Vandalism is a foolish act. Why would someone destroy government property? These properties belong to the government but children are the beneficiary of the schools that are being destroyed. This is done out of the evil heart of men. If anyone has a problem in the government creating a good place for children to learn what would be the reason? I do not think anyone is allergic to good thing except the heart of the person is just wicked. If they feel the government is spending the money unnecessarily on school they are wrong because it’s the money gotten from tax. If this kind of act continues it will not be encouraging for students to be in school because of the poor environment and children will not be excited about going to school. Also might sometime feel jealous of the ones that attend the private schools because they have a good learning atmosphere than the ones in government school who could not afford going to a private school.
God is angry – Ewemie Emmanuel
It is a known fact that in Edo State, education in the state is wearing a better and more attractive look with the renovation and reconstruction of public schools and classrooms, thereby creating a conducive environment for learning.
But unfortunately, some persons with whatever reasons do not see this act of the government as good deed for the Edo-State children. Instead, they take it upon themselves to destroy and vandalize government properties in public schools and in turn rendering the efforts of the government useless.
I condemn in strong words, the act carried out by these hoodlums. With the act, they create an uncondusive environment for these children because instead of them going straight into the class to learn, they would have to first clean up the mess they did not do. The chairs that were made for their comfort, are destroyed during the process and in turn, these children get to sit on the floor or tighten themselves on a sit which ought not to be so.
If anyone has a problem with the government, he/she should open up and face the government and please leave the schools which are meant for our leaders of tomorrow alone. Whatever the reasons may be for this evil act it should be stopped and checked. Event he bible condemns such acts as this.
Inhuman and Ungodly – Juliet Akhiemien
There is definitely no explanation or excuse to be given by anyone that destroys something from which almost every family in Edo State benefits.
Education is the bedrock of a nation’s future, this is why Governor Adams Oshiomhole took it upon himself to rebuild and refurbish the already dilapidating structure of Edo State public schools giving school children a decent environment for learning. At least he has given the poor the privilege of learning in an environment as conducive as that of the rich.
But some ingrates, hoodlums and sadists are vandalizing these public school buildings. They break the windows the windows, brake into principal’s offices and tear important documents. As if that is not enough, they mess the classrooms with faeces. That is not something the students and teachers can bear. It is just too bad and ugly to condone.
This is inhuman, ungodly and barbaric. I don’t think any right-thinking person or one who knows the importance of education would do something like this.
If you have any grievance or grievances, destroying public property is not a better way of expressing them. The mass media are available to voice your views or ideas to the governor. Causing school children not to have a place for learning is not an option. This sadistic act should not be permitted to last it should be properly investigated, and whoever is responsible for this should be brought before the law.
Highly despicable – Omorodion Ruth
This act by hoodlums in Edo state is indeed despicable as these ones have vented their anger through the destruction of public school buildings, vital teaching materials such as text books, notebooks, important documents, infrastructures such as tables, chairs, windows and doors, ceiling fans, black and marker boards, and the likes. These hooligans come very early in the morning or late at night to spifflicate these school buildings the destruction of various properties.
When Comrade Governor Adams Oshiomhole assumed office in 2008, he swung into action by reconstructing, revamping, and refurbishing the state from the dilapidated state it was in that time. With the execution of massive rural and infrastructural projects, he indeed made the entire of Edo state a sight to behold. Amongst these huge projects carried out by the comrade governor was the construction of standardized, modernized and conducive primary and secondary schools across the state.
Therefore the action of destroying these good works of the comrade governor for the betterment of the citizens in the state, particularly the children it unworthy, and these people should be properly sanctioned. In a country, where the importance of education cannot be over-emphasized, and the comrade governor has done a whole lot to ensure that schools of learning are provided for the children in the state, it is indeed disheartening to see thugs coming up to destroy these schools for whatever reasons.
Furthermore, whatever anger they hold against the governor, destroying public school buildings, messing it up and littering the whole place, is certainly not the best and suitable way to vent their anger.
Hooliganism and thuggery should not be welcome in the state. Therefore, those that engage in such a condemnable act as destroying public school buildings should be punished, and the law should take its full weight on them. It took the hard work and resilience of the governor to build those schools, hence, those involved in destroying them should be sanctioned.
Jose Saramago wrote; “chaos is merely order waiting to be deciphered.” Therefore, in order to serve as a deterrent to others who may want to engage in similar act, or even worse ones, these hoodlums should face the penalty of such deeds, destruction of public school buildings by whosoever is certainly not an act that should go unpunished.
