By Bernard Ngabirano,
WEST NILE
Students of Koboko Town College have been sent home and school indefinitely closed following a strike on Friday.
The strike happened on the night between 18th and 19th March 2022, according to the school management.
Unruly students destroyed several school properties including school fences, school latrine, teacher’s quarters, smashed school gate, burnt food stores, destroyed the school latrines, and smashed school glasses.
The strike was according to students caused by the school decision to expel some of their colleagues on indiscipline grounds amongst other reasons.
SP Angucia Josephine, the police spokesperson for West Nile Region has in a statement said that male students ran out of school and returned in the morning of Saturday.
According to Angucia, 10 prime suspects including 8 students and 2 civilian neighbours have so far been arrested in connection to the strike.
She further explained that the school has been indefinitely closed to help in investigations.
“This morning, the school administration sent the students home and closed the school to pave way for investigations and to enable the school management to get the way forward”, explained SP Angucia Josephine
Police has since cordoned off the school premises to ensure safety of the remaining properties from possible attackers.
“Currently, police are maintaining deployment at the school to monitor the situation”, said Angucia.
School strikes are on rise in West Nile region and police has warned students against getting involved in strikes as it is unlawful and may cause extra costs to parents.
“We warn students against strikes as they are not only barbaric and costly to the parents but also unlawful. Section 73 of the Penal Code Act says that any person who, being riotously assembled together, unlawfully damage any building, railway, machinery, structure or property commits a felony and is liable to imprisonment for seven years.” Police warned
The suspects are being detained at Koboko Central Police Station as inquiries into the matter continue.
