Final-Year Students Burn Principal’s Home in Benue Over NECO Fraud”
Tension gripped Gyutiev Model College in Benue State on Saturday after final-year students allegedly set ablaze the home of their principal over accusations of fraud and betrayal regarding their National Examinations Council (NECO) registration.
According to eyewitness reports and emerging community sources, the students who are mostly SS3 candidates were enraged after discovering that their names were not included on the official NECO examination roster, despite each of them having paid a hefty ₦85,000 in supposed registration fees months prior.
The school, located in the Gwer East Local Government Area, had allegedly assured all final-year students that their registration for the crucial examination had been completed.
However, panic and fury erupted when the examination timetable began and students found their names missing, effectively ruining their chances of sitting for the 2025 NECO exams a critical requirement for graduation and university admission.
In a dramatic turn of events, the aggrieved students reportedly stormed the principal’s residence located within the school compound on Friday night. What began as a protest quickly escalated into violence, culminating in the setting ablaze of the building.
Locals say the fire consumed much of the house before it was brought under control by community members and a late-arriving fire brigade.
Although no lives were lost in the incident, unconfirmed reports indicate that the principal and his family fled moments before the students arrived, narrowly escaping harm.
Community leaders and education stakeholders have condemned the act of arson but also called for a thorough investigation into the allegations of financial malpractice.
Speaking to journalists, Mr. Terver Iorliam, a parent of one of the affected students, said:
“These children have every right to be angry. ₦85,000 per student is no small money.
We sacrificed to give our children a chance, only to discover they were duped. While we don’t support violence, the principal must be held accountable.”
The Benue State Ministry of Education has since dispatched officials to the school to assess the damage and determine the extent of exam malpractice allegations.
The Commissioner for Education, Dr. Comfort Agbo, in a brief press statement, promised that justice would be served:
“This is a very disturbing development. We will not only investigate the destruction of property but also thoroughly probe the alleged embezzlement of NECO registration fees.
If found guilty, the principal and any accomplices will face the full weight of the law.”
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Police Force has launched a manhunt for the fleeing principal and initiated an inquiry into the violent protest.
Law enforcement officers are also on alert in the area to prevent further breakdown of order.
As the community reels from the chaos, parents, students, and teachers alike are left grappling with disappointment, lost academic opportunity, and a deep mistrust in a system meant to nurture their future.
