Hundreds of Fulani cows have invaded Ekiti Parapo College, the first indigenous secondary school in Ekiti established in 1954.The cows have disrupted academic activities with fears of possible links between nomads and terrorists that specialise in abduction of students.
In a letter addressed to the State Commissioner for Education,Dr. Mrs Kofoworola Aderiye, titled “Menace of Cow Herders and Growing Insecurity,” the Ekiti Parapo Old Students Association called on the State Government to intervene before it is too late.
The letter signed by its President Mr Dotun Adekanmbi raised concernsover the mindless grazing of cows on the premises of the school.“It is even more worrisomethat these herds of cattle roam the College ground without consideration to ongoing academic activities, which without doubt, distract students from their studies.”
He said the old students are especially alarmed that the uncontrolled activities of cattle herders pose a serious threat to the security of the staff and students at the College and constitute potential flashpoints in the administration of the College as well as in community relations.
“The absence of perimeter fencing of the College has been identified as a primary reason forthe incursion of cow herders into the school’s ground. We find this equally bothersome becauseit has also warranted avoidable encroachment on the property of the College by landgrabbers.”
Adekanbi sair granting the good job that the Governor Biodun Oyebanji administration has been doing in Ekiti State and his widely acknowledged hands-on discharge of his office as the Commissioner for Education, the association pleaded that the State Commissioner comes to aid so as to put a stop to the activities or nomads by urgently tabling the extant case of our historically iconic Ekiti Parapo College before the State Executive Council with a view to securing approval to execute the perimeter fencing of the College,starting from its weakest points of entry, as has been done in other schools in Ekiti State.
“We are confident that you will accord sympathetic hearing to our prayer and act expeditiously tosave our College and its staff and students from avoidable but well documented dangers that comewith uncontrolled cow grazing in the historic school,” he said.
Ekiti Parapo College is the first community school in Ekiti State established in memory of the heroic battles of Ekiti forebears during the battle for Ekiti autonomy in the mid 19th century.
