Fire razes school in Aniocha, borehole affected

Three classroom blocks and a borehole at Ofunne Primary School, Obomkpa, Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State, have been destroyed by inferno.

According to checks, the fire lasted for 3hours on Sunday Jan. 26, beginning from about 11am till 2pm.

Nothing was done from the expected authorities if not for the efforts of good spirited individuals including a Reverend Father, who fought the fire and extinguished it.

Meanwhile, community leaders in the state have been tasked to help protect and safeguard government schools established in their communities as such schools are for the benefit of the communities and their children.

The Executive Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Mr Sunny Ogwu made the call when he visited the affected school.

Ogwu expressed displeasure over the three class room block with a borehole that was raised down by fire, saying that the development was a little set back to government’s efforts in building schools even as he assured both pupils and staff of the school of government quick response in rebuilding the damaged classrooms.

The SUBEB chief was in the school to ascertain the level of damage caused by the fire. He charged community leaders to sensitize their people on the dangers of bush burning which he said was a major source of air pollution as emission from bush burning could be hazardous to health and cannot be controlled when it escalates.

Recounting what could possibly be the cause of the fire outbreak, the Head Teacher of the School Mrs Ogbechie Margret, disclosed that the fire started around 11am and was totally put off at about 2pm with the help of a Reverend Father and some good Samaritans who responded to alarm raised by the School.

She further noted that the fire which gutted the classroom blocks was as a result of indiscriminate bush burning in the area.

The Chairman, who also visited Egbune Primary School Issele- Uku, was accompanied by Chief Mrs. Lina Osuya, the Member representing Delta North in the Board, Mr. Paul Kurugbe, Member representing Delta South in the Board as well as Secretary to the Board, Byron Unini and the Local Education Authority Secretary, Aniocha North Local Government Council, Mr Nwoko Joseph.