Esther Salifu
Pupils of Community School Ugiri in Isiala Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State took to the streets in protest against herdsmen’s encroachment on their school premises. The pupils, chanting solidarity songs, expressed frustration over the destruction of their crops and classrooms by the herdsmen’s activities.
“Herdsmen’s cows are destroying our crops and chasing us out of classrooms. We don’t know who owns the school – pupils or cows,” lamented Pastor Benard Ahaotu, a teacher at Community School Ugiri.
According to Ahaotu, “We spent six bags of fertiliser cultivating cassava, but cows destroyed them. This is the second time. We beg the herdsmen to stop, but they don’t listen. We use crop proceeds to run the school. If this continues, we may lock up the school.”
The school has sought help from the traditional ruler and police. Police spokesperson Henry Okoye promised “full investigations” and urged the community not to take the law into their own hands.
“We urge the community not to take the law into their own hands,”Okoye emphasized.
