DELTA State Government has announced the immediate closure of Ogume Grammar School, Ogume in Ndokwa West Local Government Area of the state till further notice.

The closure is as a result of activities of some miscreants who set the school ablaze on October 14, 2021.

The State Commissioner for Secondary Education, Mrs. Rose Ezewu disclosed this in Asaba at a meeting with the leaders of Ogume community.

Mrs. Ezewu said that the decision of the state government to order the closure of the school was in the best interest of the community and the state in general as it was designed to guarantee the safety of teachers and students of the school, adding that the whole structure and learning materials in the school were destroyed.

While calling on the community to bring the perpetrators of the crime to book in order to serve as a deterrent to others, Ezewu urged leaders and all stakeholders in the community to show genuine commitment towards rebuilding the school.

She warned parents in the community to desist from taking their children to other schools in the area for admission as a result of the shutdown of the school but should contribute towards rebuilding process just as she disclosed that the principal that was severely beaten by the hoodlums had been discharged from the hospital.

A female student of the school was killed while properties worth millions of naira were destroyed when the hoodlums invaded the school with all kinds of weapons last week.

It was gathered that the hoodlums also assaulted the principal before she was rushed to the general hospital, Kwale for treatment.

The school’s ICT centre, principal’s office, her car and the administrative office amongst others were burnt down by the rampaging cultists.

In his remarks, member representing Ndokwa West Constituency in the State House of Assembly, Hon. Charles Emetulu who frowned at the unwholesome attitude of the miscreants said that there was no longer any structure for learning in the school after the burning down of the school.

Hon. Emetulu, who is the Chairman, House Committee on Education described the incident as sad and unfortunate, stating that the school was one of the best equipped secondary schools in the area.

Earlier in their separate remarks, the representative of the Okpala-Uku of Ogbe-Ogume community, Dr. Valentine Akpati, the Chairman of the Parents Teachers Association in the school, Chief Emeka Ogeleka and the Chairman of the Community Development Committee, Chief Kenneth Ogeleka commended the Commissioner, Hon. Emetulu and other members of the state government’s delegation for visiting the community on fact finding mission.