Fire Devastates School in Ndokwa East, Destroying Vital Learning Resources
By Wisdom Ndisika
ONUABOH/Nigeria: A fire outbreak in an oil-producing community in Ndokwa East, Delta State, has left a school building and office structures of Onuaboh Secondary School, severely damaged. Eyewitnesses reported that neither students nor security personnel were present when the fire broke out, allowing the blaze to spread rapidly before help could be summoned.
Uche Prof., a peasant farmer returning from the fields, explained that the fire was first noticed at a late hour, and by the time they were able to alert authorities, it had already escalated beyond control. The inferno destroyed over 200 government-donated chairs and tables, textbooks, teaching boards, and other instructional materials crucial for the upcoming Junior WAEC examination.
The community has since attempted to identify the source of the fire, with allegations suggesting that it may have been deliberately started, possibly by Fulani herdsmen who may have used a cigarette to set fire to nearby farmland to feed their cattle. However, there has been no conclusive evidence regarding the cause of the blaze.
Reports highlight the negligence of relevant authorities in responding to the fire, as well as the unpatriotic attitudes of some community leaders towards the protection of public resources. The situation underscores the urgent need for an overhaul of the school’s infrastructure and its safety measures.
In a statement, the school’s principal, Mrs. Ese Ugho, condemned the incident, calling for better collaboration between community leaders and government authorities to prevent further encroachment by herders and to safeguard the community from potential future
