By Abasi Ita
Students at Oyenghe Comprehensive Secondary School in Nta Nselle, Ikom Local Government Area, have been sent home after a powerful windstorm tore through the school over the weekend, leaving severe destruction across the campus.
An assessment of the school revealed that all classroom blocks were destroyed, with roofs ripped away. Critical facilities, including the library, science laboratory, staff room, and examination hall, also sustained heavy damage.
Speaking with our conrreepondent, the principal of the school Henry Obri described the situation as “alarming” and called for urgent intervention from government authorities.
“The damage is extensive, and students cannot continue their academic activities under these conditions. Immediate support is needed to rebuild the infrastructure and provide a safe environment for learning,” he said. Obri added that even the large trees that might have offered temporary shelter were uprooted, leaving students and staff without any safe space to conduct academic activities.
Community leader Kate Anoka echoed these concerns, describing the destruction as “massive and unprecedented.” She warned that the lack of a conducive learning environment is disrupting the second-term academic calendar for both teachers and students.
Eyewitnesses said the storm followed heavy rainfall on February 13 and caught the school and surrounding community off guard. Residents are now appealing to both government authorities and humanitarian organizations to provide urgent assistance in repairing the school and enabling students to return to learning safely.
Parents and guardians have expressed fears that the prolonged closure could negatively affect students’ academic progress. With temporary learning arrangements yet to be confirmed, pupils remain idle while recovery efforts are being planned.
The disaster has drawn attention to the vulnerability of public and private infrastructure to natural hazards in the region, a situation exacerbated by widespread deforestation and its impact on climate change. The incident raises urgent questions about preparedness, infrastructure maintenance, and long-term support for educational institutions in Cross River State.
Authorities have been urged to act swiftly to ensure that students can return to a safe and functional learning environment and that education in the state is not further disrupted.