Two West Nile schools closed after violent student strikes, vandalism
Investigations into both incidents are ongoing, with police vowing to bring all perpetrators to justice.
West Nile: The Territorial Police in Obongi District and Ayivu East Division in Arua City have shut down two secondary schools Itula Secondary School (Obongi) and St. Peter’s Secondary School in Aliba (Arua City) following violent student strikes that led to extensive property damage, injuries, and arrests.
Authorities are treating the incidents as cases of vandalism, assault, and malicious damage to property. They have urged students to express grievances through peaceful and lawful means.
Incident at Itula Secondary School
According to SP Collins Asea, the regional police spokesperson, the unrest at Itula Secondary School began around 12:01 AM on the night of July 8–9, 2025. Students reportedly went on a destructive rampage.
“The group smashed classroom, office, and laboratory windows, destroyed lighting fixtures, solar panels, speakers, monitors, and laboratory equipment, and set textbooks ablaze,” Asea stated.
The rampage was allegedly sparked by a complaint regarding the smell of posho soup served at lunch on July 7. However, an inspection by authorities confirmed the food supplies were fresh, effectively ruling out food quality as the cause.
The school staff, led by headteacher Tiondi William, alerted authorities after discovering the destruction. The case has been registered at Obongi Police Station under CRB 172/2025, with evidence collected including broken glass, charred books, and damaged equipment.
Several students have been arrested, and others injured during the chaos are receiving treatment at Obongi Health Centre IV. The school has since been closed as administrators assess the extent of the losses.
St. Peter’s Secondary School Riot
A related incident occurred on the morning of July 9, 2025, at around 8:30 AM at St. Peter’s Secondary School in Aliba, Ayivu East Division. What began as a student protest demanding a meeting with school administrators quickly escalated into a riot.
Students vandalized school buildings and nearby property. Police were called in to contain the situation, and during the intervention, a 16-year-old student was shot in the leg. He is currently receiving treatment at Arua Regional Referral Hospital.
The school has suspended all involved students indefinitely and remains closed pending investigation and a full assessment of the damage.
Recurring unrest in West Nile schools
Student strikes in the West Nile region have become a recurring issue, often tied to concerns about food quality, overcrowded dormitories, inadequate facilities, harsh disciplinary measures, and poor communication between students and school administrators.
Such protests frequently escalate into violence, disrupting learning and draining community and law enforcement resources.
Stakeholders are now calling for systemic reforms, including; the creation of student councils and open forums for dialogue, prompt engagement with students over grievances such as food and discipline and improved communication and transparency in school management.
Police response
SP Collins Asea condemned the violence and urged students to follow lawful grievance channels.
“We appeal to parents to guide their children toward constructive behavior, and to the public to cooperate with law enforcement as we restore normalcy,” he said.
Investigations into both incidents are ongoing, with police vowing to bring all perpetrators to justice.
The closure of Itula and St. Peter’s Secondary Schools serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for education sector reforms aimed at preventing future unrest in the West Nile region.
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