The Anambra State Government has ordered the immediate closure of Community Secondary School, Awor-Ezimuzor, in Ezinifite, Nnewi South Local Government Area, following the alleged arrest and detention of the school’s principal and vice principal by the local vigilante group.
It was gathered that they were detained for three days by the community’s vigilante group without access to food, water or toilet facilities.
Although details of their arrest were not disclosed, the state Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ngozi Chuma-Udeh, ordered the closure in a statement released on Thursday.
The statement read, “The state government has directed the immediate and temporary closure of Community Secondary School Awor-Ezimuzor, Ezinifite, Nnewi South LGA.
The closure follows disturbing reports of the unlawful arrest, torture and detention of the principal and vice principal of the school.”
Chuma-Udeh said the school would remain shut until the safety of the school principal, VP, staff and students was fully guaranteed.
She said she had invited the Chairman and Secretary of the Post Primary Schools Service Commission for an urgent meeting to address the matter.
According to her, the board member representing Nnewi zone, the zonal director, Nnewi zone, the management of the school and the President-General of Awor-Ezimuzor, Ezinifite Town Union, were also invited to the meeting.
The statement added, “The closure is to ensure the safety and security of the students, who are already traumatised by the event, even as they continue writing their Basic Education Certificate Examination and West African School Certificate Examination.”
The commissioner urged the stakeholders to be available and to approach the matter with the highest level of seriousness and urgency.