…..From Dele Ogunyemi, Ibadan…..
It is incredible, yet it is true as a total number of 103 laptop computers, two scanners, printers as well as other e-learning and internet facilities worth over N10 million have been carted away by yet to be identified burglars who reportedly broke into the computer room of Oba Akinyele Memorial High School, Anlugbua, Bashorun,Ibadan, penultimate weekend.
Investigations revealed that the unfortunate incident occurred barely a few weeks after an old student of the High School facilitated the e-learning gadgets to his alma mater as part of the School Access Program (SAP) of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), to assist secondary schools for internet facilities.
But the lawmaker representing Ibadan North Federal Constituency, Hon. Abiodun Dada Awoleye, who recently rehabilitated the school’s ill-fated computer room in June this year with a view to accommodating the computers for the use of the students and teachers declared pointedly that sabotage cannot be ruled out of the latest ugly development.
Further investigations showed that tongues were left wagging by the time schools in Oyo State resumed for the new academic session recently when the unfortunate incident was discovered to the chagrin of students and teachers.
When contacted, the Principal of the school, one Mrs. Kolawole would not want to speak with newsmen as she simply said that the incident had already been reported at the Testing Ground Police Station, Iwo Road, Ibadan and the State Ministry of Education, Secretariat, Ibadan for proper investigation.
Our correspondent however gathered that three security guards of the school had already been picked up and interrogated at the police station from where they were charged to court and slammed with alleged conspiracy.
Commenting on the incident, Hon. Awoleye said it was an unfortunate and monumental loss that the yet-to-be commissioned computers were carted away by yet to be identified burglars.
While describing the development as a sabotage, the lawmaker urged the police to come out with proper investigation and ensure that the supposed robbers are not only apprehended but punished accordingly.
It will be recalled that the lawmaker had in May this year commissioned a similar project comprising a total of 110 laptop computers, which he facilitated under the NCC’s Schools Support Program for Advanced Digital Access Program for Tertiary institutions, to The Polytechnic, Ibadan for the use of students and lecturers of the Polytechnic.