Porous Security:  Rivers Community Demands Perimeter Fence For School

To aid the fight against in security, some residents of Rukpokwu in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area have called on the state government to take urgent steps, and provide its Community Secondary School with perimeter fence.
They said the thick bush around the school premises was enough security threat and needed to be checked with immediate alacrity.
A resident, who only gave her name as Mama Ejima, said that the provision of a perimeter fence in the school will discourage a social vices in the area.
The lady told The Tide yesterday in Port Harcourt, that the thick bush was now providing a cover for some students.
According to her, some of the students leave home in the pretext of going to school only to be seen elsewhere by some vigilante youths from the community.
Another resident, Mrs Amara Chukwumeka, said it has become a kind of normalcy for the students to hide themselves in the bush even during school hours.
Chukwumeka noted that unless the bush was cleared, the students will continue to utilise it.
She expressed regrets that such thick bush could be seen in the centre of the community which was saturared with numerous modern day structures.
Some staff of the school who pleaded anonymity, said that they had approached the community over the issue, but did not receive a favourable reply.
They recalled that the bush was part of the challenge the school had ever faced since its inception.
On the allegation of providing cover for some students, they declined comments, but said such a place can nest anyone with criminal tendencies irrespective of the person’s occupation.
The Tide was informed that the bush was left in the area due to prolonged litigation between two claimants to the parcel of land. 
The said school is sited off SARS Road by Obio/Akpor International Market, Rukpokwu Community.

By: King Onunwor