By Felix Khanoba
A delegation from the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) visited the institution’s Study Centre located in the Ezeoke Nsu community of Ehime Mbano Local Government Area, Imo State, which was set ablaze on Monday night by unidentified assailants.
A statement signed by Ibrahim Sheme, the Director of Media and Publicity at NOUN, said the delegation’s visit aimed to evaluate the extent of the damage caused by the fire.
The arson was reportedly sparked by unfounded rumours suggesting that the Federal Government planned to use the facility to accommodate internally displaced persons from a particular region of the country.
The attackers also targeted the private residence of former senator for Imo North, Senator Frank Ibezim.
NOUN has, however, dispelled the rumour as the concoction of misguided elements and condemned the arson by the enemies of the community, saying it was never contacted by any government agency for such an inexistent measure.
Sheme said, “We are aware that the police have since swung into action to apprehend the perpetrators of the heinous crime.
Meanwhile, the Vice-Chancellor of NOUN, Professor Olufemi A. Peters, has reassured the students of the Ezeoke Nsu Study Centre and the general public that academic programmes there would not be interrupted by the sad occurrence.
He said, “Academic activities by our students in the Ezeoke Nsu Study Centre will continue unabated as they will be assigned to the Study Centres nearest to them.
“We sympathise with Senator Frank Ibezim over the razing of his residence by the hoodlums and pray to God to recompense him for his loss.
“We are grateful to the leaders and members of the Ezeoke Nsu community for their sympathy with and support for us in the current situation and assure them that their Study Centre will return ever more strong in the shortest possible time.”
