Placing safety of their students and teachers first,
the board of Ilboru Secondary School yesterday closed the school until
further notice fearing that the school is being targeted for an arson
attack.
“We are still working on the claims but to keep everyone safe, we have opted for the students and teachers to go home for now,” explained Acting Regional Education Officer, Sifael Mollel.
“This is the second incident where the school is under threat of being burnt down…we fear for our lives…,” said a Form Three student who reported that there were similar threats last year.
Under heavy guard of armed police officers, school Headmaster, Julius Shula announced to the 847 students that the school is officially closed until further notice.
However, the reports are contradictory. On one account they claim that the assailants are unknown persons yet four students are currently being interrogated by police in Arumeru District in connection with the threat.
Also, ten others have been suspended for a period of up to 21 days (starting yesterday) and they will not be allowed back until their District Commissioners interview them and deem them good citizens.
Uncofirmed reports further claim that according to interviewed students, some of their teachers are involved in the arson threat.
What police did however confirm is that indeed there was petrol poured around one of the school’s dormitories last week when the recent tensions begun. The threat is said to have been mounting over the period of one year, but police investigations conducted last year did not yield anything.
On a lighter note, the decision to send the students home has been reached because it is only ten days before they would have gone home for their mid-term.
Arusha Regional Commander, Liberatus Sabas, confirmed reports of the arson threat, saying they are pursuing the matter and the outcome would be made public.
No official statement was given to confirm that it is the students and teachers who are the primary suspects but as mentioned, some students are being interrogated by police while others have been suspended and won’t return until their local official confirm them to be upstanding citizens.
“We are still working on the claims but to keep everyone safe, we have opted for the students and teachers to go home for now,” explained Acting Regional Education Officer, Sifael Mollel.
“This is the second incident where the school is under threat of being burnt down…we fear for our lives…,” said a Form Three student who reported that there were similar threats last year.
Under heavy guard of armed police officers, school Headmaster, Julius Shula announced to the 847 students that the school is officially closed until further notice.
However, the reports are contradictory. On one account they claim that the assailants are unknown persons yet four students are currently being interrogated by police in Arumeru District in connection with the threat.
Also, ten others have been suspended for a period of up to 21 days (starting yesterday) and they will not be allowed back until their District Commissioners interview them and deem them good citizens.
Uncofirmed reports further claim that according to interviewed students, some of their teachers are involved in the arson threat.
What police did however confirm is that indeed there was petrol poured around one of the school’s dormitories last week when the recent tensions begun. The threat is said to have been mounting over the period of one year, but police investigations conducted last year did not yield anything.
On a lighter note, the decision to send the students home has been reached because it is only ten days before they would have gone home for their mid-term.
Arusha Regional Commander, Liberatus Sabas, confirmed reports of the arson threat, saying they are pursuing the matter and the outcome would be made public.
No official statement was given to confirm that it is the students and teachers who are the primary suspects but as mentioned, some students are being interrogated by police while others have been suspended and won’t return until their local official confirm them to be upstanding citizens.
SOURCE:
THE GUARDIAN
