By Mike Rwothomio

The Territorial Police in Obongi District and Ayivu East Divisions in Arua city have shut down two secondary schools; Itula Secondary School( Obongi ) and St. Peter’s Secondary School in Aliba ( Arua City ) following violent student strikes that resulted in significant property damage, injuries, and arrests.

Authorities are investigating the incidents as acts of vandalism, assault, and malicious damage to property, while urging students to address grievances peacefully.

Incident at Itula Secondary School.

SP Collins Asea, the regional police spokesperson confirmed the incidents in a statement, sharing that On the night of July 8-9, 2025, at approximately 12:01 AM, students at Itula Secondary School in Obongi District engaged in a destructive rampage.

Asea added that, " the group smashed classroom, office, and laboratory windows, destroyed lighting fixtures, solar panels, speakers, monitors, and laboratory equipment, and set textbooks ablaze" 

The vandalism followed a reported complaint about the smell of posho soup served at lunch on July 7.

Inspectors confirmed the supplies were fresh, ruling out food quality as a trigger.School staff, led by Tiondi William, alerted authorities after discovering the damage.

Obongi Police Station registered the case under CRB 172/2025, securing evidence including broken glass, charred textbooks, and damaged equipment.

 Asea said Several suspects are in custody, as some students injured during the chaos are receiving treatment at Obongi Health Centre IV.

The school is closed as management assesses losses.

Ayivu East incident

In a related incident on July 9, 2025, at 8:30 AM, a student protest at St. Peter’s Secondary School in Aliba, Ayivu East Division, escalated into a riot.

Police say Students demanding a meeting with administrators smashed windows and damaged school and local property. 

Police intervention resulted in a gunshot that wounded a 16-year-old student in the leg and is under treatment at Arua Regional referral Hospital.

Police restored order, and the school administration suspended all involved students indefinitely.

St. Peter’s is now closed pending further investigation and damage assessment.

Student strikes in West Nile schools have been a recurring issue, often linked to grievances over food quality, inadequate facilities, strict disciplinary measures, or poor communication with administrators. 

These protests frequently turn violent, disrupting education and straining community resources.

Underlying factors include overcrowded dormitories, limited funding for school maintenance, and a lack of effective dialogue between students and management.

To prevent future unrest, stakeholders urged authorities and school administrations to adopt proactive measures through creation of student councils or regular forums where concerns can be raised and addressed transparently, engage students promptly on issues like food quality or disciplinary policies to build trust.  

SP Asea Collins, Police Regional PRO, condemned the violence, urging students to use lawful channels for grievances. “We appeal to parents to guide their children toward constructive behavior and to the public to cooperate with law enforcement as we restore normalcy,” he said.

Investigations continue in both cases, with police promising to hold perpetrators accountable.

The closure of Itula and St. Peter’s Secondary Schools underscores the urgent need for systemic reforms to address student unrest in West Nile.

Mike Rwothomio is news editor at zoomer Africa your number one grassroot news