Students Torch Principal’s Home After Collecting NECO Fees Without Registration

In a shocking incident that underscores growing frustration among students and communities over academic mismanagement, final-year students of Gyutiev Model College in Saghev Ward, Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, have allegedly set ablaze the home of their principal, Mr. Isaac Yina. 

According to multiple sources, the incident took place in the early hours of Friday. It was reportedly carried out in retaliation for what the students described as betrayal and negligence by the principal. 

The students claim that Mr. Yina collected ₦85,000 from each of the 178 SS3 candidates, money that was intended for their registration in the 2025 National Examinations Council (NECO) examination. 

However, they discovered too late that he failed to carry out the registration, leaving them ineligible to sit for the critical national exam. 

The enraged students, feeling deceived and hopeless about their academic future, allegedly gathered at the principal’s residence and set it on fire, causing significant property damage. 

Eyewitnesses say the fire started just after midnight and raged for hours before it could be contained by local residents. 

When contacted for comment, the Public Relations Officer of the Benue State Police Command, SP Udeme Edet, confirmed that she had not yet received an official report on the matter. 

However, she assured that the police would investigate the situation thoroughly and issue a statement once more details become available. 

This act of violent retaliation has sent shockwaves through the community and comes at a time when Guma LGA is still reeling from recent tragedies. 

Just weeks earlier, the area was the scene of a deadly assault on the Yelwata community, where over 200 people lost their lives in a brutal attack suspected to have been carried out by armed assailants. 

Residents and education stakeholders have expressed concern over the incident, calling for a thorough probe into the alleged misconduct by the school authorities and urging students to seek lawful means to address grievances. 

Meanwhile, calls have grown louder for improved oversight and accountability within Nigeria’s secondary school system, especially around the management of external examination processes.