Chairman of the committee investigating school vandalism in Gombe State, Aliyu Kamara, has warned that anyone found culpable would face the full weight of the law.
Kamara made this statement during an assessment of school facilities in the Balanga Local Government Area. He explained that the committee is currently investigating incidents of school vandalism across the state and will include recommendations for appropriate sanctions in its report to the governor.
Governor Muhammadu Yahaya had last month appointed the Kamara-led committee to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the rising cases of vandalism targeting primary and secondary schools across Gombe State. The committee’s mandate includes assessing the scale, pattern, and causes of the vandalism, identifying affected schools, evaluating the extent of damage, and recommending preventive measures and accountability mechanisms to forestall future occurrences.
Speaking on the exercise, Kamara described it as painful that, despite the government committing huge resources to create a conducive teaching and learning environment, some unscrupulous individuals are bent on sabotaging these efforts.
He said, “The governor is deeply concerned by reports of wanton destruction of school buildings and facilities. This committee was set up to thoroughly investigate these cases and recommend appropriate sanctions where necessary. Anyone found culpable will face the full weight of the law. The committee will be fair but firm in carrying out its assignment. Despite the huge investment by the government, some individuals have chosen to undermine these efforts. At the end of our investigation, we will make strong recommendations, and anyone indicted will face the full force of the law.”
During the visit, the committee engaged with traditional rulers in Balanga LGA, who pledged their support for Governor Yahaya’s efforts to protect public school infrastructure. The Bala Waja, Danjuma Mohammed, and the Folo Dadiya, Abdulkadir Abubakar, expressed their backing for the governor’s initiative to investigate the vandalisation of primary and secondary schools.
The monarchs also urged the state government to improve security around schools to prevent future incidents. They, however, expressed concern over what they termed the “nonchalant attitude” of some community members toward government property, particularly in rural areas.
Abubakar said, “We appreciate the governor’s massive investment in education, but it is unfortunate that some individuals choose to destroy facilities meant for our children. There is an urgent need to improve security around schools and other essential buildings.”
Earlier, the committee had interacted with the Chairman of Balanga LGA, Hon. Ibrahim Salisu, council officials, the Local Education Authority, and other education stakeholders in the area.
In a related engagement, the committee visited Gona Emirate and paid a courtesy call on the Emir of Gona, Umar Abdussalam. Addressing the traditional council, Kamara urged communities to take ownership of government schools to safeguard them from vandalism. He said, “Schools belong to the people. If we fail to protect them, we are destroying our own future.”
The Emir commended Governor Yahaya for setting up the committee and assured that the emirate would work closely with village heads to protect public schools and other government property.
The committee also visited schools in Zongomari, Wuro Dole, and Ngalda villages to assess the extent of vandalism. Residents in the communities were warned to report anyone caught vandalising government property.
Additionally, the committee visited Billiri Local Government Area, where it engaged education sector stakeholders, including local government officials and traditional leaders. Speaking to the Mai Tangle, Danladi Maiyamba, and district heads at the palace, Kamara described the level of vandalisation in some schools as “worrisome” and urged communities to develop a culture of collective responsibility toward public assets.
In his response, the Mai Tangle commended the governor for the proactive step to safeguard the future of education in the state. He said, “The constitution of this committee shows the administration’s seriousness about education. We fully support this initiative and will cooperate to ensure its success.”
Schools inspected in Billiri LGA included Dangwaram Primary/Junior Secondary School and Sansani Junior Secondary School.
Read the full article here
