Nkwanta SHS Students On Rampage

Some of the school properties destroyed

Students of the Nkwanta Senior High School (SHS) in the Volta Region went on rampage on Monday, October 29, 2018, destroying the school’s properties.

The students rioted after some teachers had seized their mobile phones during a roll call in some of the dormitories on Monday night.

The incident started at about 10:00pm last Monday, and the students destroyed properties windscreens of the headmaster’s vehicle, school bus, windows and doors in some classrooms and ransacked the teachers’ bungalow.

The roll call, which started smoothly in House 3, suddenly became chaotic.

Some of the students, who spoke to DAILY GUIDE, wondered why their colleagues went on rampage and destroyed properties.

They intensified the riot and the Nkwanta South Police had to be called to bring the situation under control.

Headmaster Runs for Cover 

The Headmaster of the School, BP Nayrko, who confirmed the incident to an Accra-based radio station, said he ran for his life when the students started the riot at about 10pm.

The teachers and other staff members also took cover to avoid attacks by the students, adding that the students cut the main water and electricity line during the vandalism.

A reporter, who resides in the area, told DAILY GUIDE that most of the students, particularly the males, had absconded to avoid arrest by the police.

He indicated that the entire school looked like a war zone during the riot.

Police Speaks 

The Nkwanta South District Police Commander, ASP Williams Ayensu, who confirmed the incident to the media, disclosed that the chaos began after some teachers confiscated mobile phones at the boys’ dormitory during a roll call last Monday.

He said the seizure of the mobile phones incensed some of the students who expressed their anger at the teachers.

The police chief told an Accra-based radio station that the angry students hurled stones at the teachers, smashed windscreens of school’s buses and windows, among others.

He added that four school buses, 16 motorbikes, properties of teachers, white boards were damaged.

A source at the Nkwanta Police said the windscreens of the Nkwanta South Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) were also damaged.

He added that calm returned to the school after reinforcement from police and military personnel from Nkwanta North District moved to the school.

30 Students Arrested 

ASP Williams Ayensu said about 30 students, who reportedly took part in the riot, had been arrested by the police to assist in investigations.

Meanwhile, the Nkwanta South District Security Council has been meeting to decide on the next line of action to restore normalcy in the school.

From Fred Duodu, Nkwanta (k.duodu@yahoo.com)