National Telescope national telescope newspaper
By Peter Chuks, Asaba
DELTA: Students of Onuaboh Secondary School in Ndokwa East Local Government Area of Delta State have been left stranded after a fire razed major parts of the school, destroying classrooms, furniture, and vital learning materials.
The fire, which broke out late at night, spread unchecked due to the absence of students and security personnel.
The incident has sparked fresh concerns about poor emergency response in rural communities, with residents blaming authorities for failing to protect public institutions.
The fire has also reignited calls for better fire safety measures in schools, especially in rural areas, to prevent similar disasters in the future.
A local farmer, Uche Prof., who witnessed the fire while returning from his farm, described how quickly it escalated. “By the time we noticed the fire and tried to raise an alarm, it was already beyond control,” he said.
The blaze consumed over 200 government-provided chairs and tables, textbooks, teaching boards, and other instructional materials crucial for the upcoming Junior WAEC examination.
Community members are still debating the cause of the fire, with some alleging it might have been deliberately started. Others suspect Fulani herdsmen may have unintentionally ignited nearby farmland while smoking. However, no concrete evidence has been found to support these claims.
Reacting to the destruction, the school’s principal, Mrs. Ese Ugho, called for urgent intervention from the government and local leaders to rebuild the school and improve security.
“This is a devastating setback for our students. Without urgent action, their education will suffer. We need both government and community support to restore what has been lost and prevent future incidents,” she said.
