The Chairman of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), Ebonyi State Chapter, Mr. Felix Nomeh, has alleged that the Ebonyi State Government included suspected cultists in the committee responsible for enforcing the closure of illegal and substandard schools in Ezza North Local Government Area.
Speaking with journalists in Abakaliki on Tuesday, Nomeh — who also serves on the school closure task force — claimed that the exercise, initially designed to sanitize the education sector, has been hijacked by individuals using it for intimidation and harassment.
“The committee was created to identify and shut down illegal schools across the LGA, but it has now been infiltrated by questionable characters,” he said.
According to Nomeh, the new policy on school closure was meant to improve the standard of education in Ebonyi State. However, he alleged that some members of the task force were using the assignment to target teachers and school owners unfairly.
“In Ezza North, where I serve as a member of the committee alongside the Secretary of the Local Education Authority and the Area Inspector of Education, our duty is to close illegal schools. During one of our operations, some teachers and proprietors were arrested, but I pleaded for the release of the teachers because they were only trying to earn a living,” Nomeh explained.
He further alleged that his plea for leniency did not sit well with certain members of the team, whom he described as cultists. Nomeh claimed that these individuals have since threatened his life for standing against their misconduct.
“I didn’t know that some of those recruited into the committee, including the driver, were cultists. They are now threatening to kill me for advocating the release of the detained teachers,” he said.
Nomeh accused the task force members of going beyond their mandate, alleging that they have been using their positions to intimidate school proprietors and other education stakeholders in the area.
When contacted for a response, Dr. Ilang Donatus, the Ebonyi State Commissioner for Primary and Secondary Education, dismissed the allegations as “baseless and reckless.”
“Let him present evidence showing that any cultists were recruited into the committee. Otherwise, I will not hesitate to take legal action,” Ilang stated.
The state government had earlier established the committee to clamp down on illegal and unapproved schools operating across the 13 local government areas of Ebonyi State, as part of efforts to strengthen the education system.
Stay updated with Ebonyi News Network for real-time reports, in-depth analysis, and exclusive coverage of policies shaping Ebonyi State.
