Tension has deepened in Mburubu Community, Nkanu East Local Government Area of Enugu State, following an attack on the Community Secondary School by suspected hoodlums amid a lingering dispute over traditional leadership.
The incident, which occurred on Friday, December 5, 2025, is the latest in a string of violent episodes linked to the protracted crisis that has sharply polarised the community. Residents allege the unrest is politically driven and tied to a deepening rivalry over the town’s traditional rulership.
According to residents, the attackers — identified as known youths in the community stormed the school during learning hours, vandalising classrooms and destroying more than 30 school items, including desks, chairs, and learning materials. The invasion left students traumatised and teachers in panic.
Community members accuse the Enugu State Commissioner for Science and Technology, Engr. Lawrence Ezeh, of sponsoring the attacks through loyalists allegedly brought into Mburubu to strengthen his political influence. Although the commissioner has repeatedly denied the allegations, villagers insist several of the youths involved had once worked with him in Port Harcourt before relocating to the community.
Earlier security operations carried out by the SWAT unit of the Nigeria Police Force reportedly led to the arrest of some suspects who, according to police sources, confessed to receiving support from the commissioner — a claim that has further widened distrust in the community.
The situation worsened after residents granted interviews to journalists. Villagers told SaharaReporters that shortly after media reports emerged, the hoodlums allegedly returned and targeted the children of those who spoke out.
A resident, Mrs. Chioma, said her daughter’s locker and chair were among the items destroyed during the school invasion. She further claimed that her child’s scholarship — said to have been facilitated by Prince Ezeh — was threatened after she publicly supported a rival traditional leader.
Another villager, identified simply as an Engineer, narrated how he met a boy crying while carrying a smashed locker after completing his examinations. He said he visited the school and found numerous lockers destroyed and windows removed.
The Area Commander of the Nigeria Police Force in Agbani confirmed the school attack, noting that the identified suspects fled the community immediately after the incident. He assured residents that efforts were ongoing to apprehend the culprits, though locals remain skeptical.
Also confirming the incident, the school principal, Mrs. Joy Chibuko, said the attack had disrupted learning activities and created an atmosphere of fear within the school. She disclosed that the school previously had a security officer, but he no longer works there.
Community elders and residents are now urging Governor Peter Mbah and security agencies to intervene decisively before the unrest escalates further. They warn that unless political tensions fueling the crisis are addressed and perpetrators held accountable, Mburubu may descend into deeper instability.
Efforts to obtain the commissioner’s reaction were unsuccessful, as he did not respond to messages sent to him.
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