Okposi Group Visits, Commiserates with Fed. Min. of Education over death of FGC Students

The people of Okposi Community, Ohaozara LGA of Ebonyi State appear to be taking all the right steps in response to the unfortunate and questionable death of two JSS 3 students of Federal Government College, Okposi (FGCO) – Tochukwu Eneh and Chukwuemeka Ugwu. 

On Friday May 27, 2016, a delegation of Okposi e-8, an association of elites of Okposi community, paid a solidarity visit to the Directorate of Basic and Secondary Education, Federal Ministry of Education in Abuja. The delegation, which was led by the association’s chairman who is also the Chairman of the Community Based School Management Committee of FGCO, Barr. Emenike Okorie, was received by the Director, Basic and Secondary Education, Mrs. Anne Buchi Okonkwo.

The delegation said it was in the Ministry to express solidarity with the education authorities over the sad incident. The Okposi e-8 representatives expressed the willingness of their association and community, to cooperate with both the Ministry and security agencies towards unravelling the cause of death, noting that Okposi community has never witnessed such bizarre occurrence or ever been associated with violence of any kind. They explained that Okposi community which is known rather for its hospitality and respect for visitors has already gone ahead to activate its traditional way of dealing with issues of this nature.

The delegation also urged the Ministry to immediately strengthen the school management in order to forestall and nip in the bud acts of indiscipline that might lead to similar incidents in future.

Responding, the Director, Mrs. Okonkwo, thanked the delegation for the timely visit saying that the visit has served to dispel the anxiety of the Ministry over the safety of lives of both students and staff of the school. She further promised to forward a report of the visit to the Permanent Secretary for onward transmission to the Honourable Minister.

Earlier, the group had issued a statement urging a thorough investigation to identify the cause of death and ensure justice is done. Similarly, the Okposi Education Initiative urged continued cooperation of members of the community with the investigators and pledged to work with other stakeholders to prevent recurrence. In accordance with its tradition, the community has also placed curses on any person connected in the death of the students.