‘How vandalism, false allegations are pushing college to the brink’
The serene academic environment of the Federal College of Education, Eha-Amufu in Enugu State has come under intense strain, as waves of vandalism, mysterious fire outbreaks and damaging allegations converge
- By Damian Duruiheoma,
The serene academic environment of the Federal College of Education, Eha-Amufu in Enugu State has come under intense strain, as waves of vandalism, mysterious fire outbreaks and damaging allegations converge to strain the institution’s stability.
Amid the growing controversy, the Deputy Provost, Dr Samuel Odo, hasbeen defending the institution led by Provost, Prof. Pauline Ngozi Ikwuegbu. He also urged the public to look beyond what he called “manufactured narratives.”
“Somebody can stay in his room and raise an issue that is not even existing,” Odo said, expressing concern over what he described as the spread of misinformation about the college.
At the heart of the allegations is a claim that the provost diverted three buses valued at N300 million for personal use—an accusation Odo firmly dismissed.
“Those allegations are false—completely false in every sense,” he stated.
According to him, the vehicles in question were part of a constituency project, with documented agreements clearly stating their distribution.
“One of the buses belongs to this college, and that is the Foton bus our council is using today. The other two were allocated to schools in Enugu State,” he said.
Odo further revealed that the college independently traced the buses to beneficiary schools in Ibakwa-Aka, Igbo-Eze South Local Government Area.
“We contacted the schools and they confirmed receiving the buses in 2023 as part of a constituency project. We even published our findings,” he added.
The deputy provost also addressed claims that the management misused Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) interventions, insisting that such accusations lack merit.
“We have records showing that over 70 memmbers of staff benefited from TETFund development programmes for academic research and development between 2018 and 2024. These processes are transparent and involve labour unions,” he said.
But beyond the battle of allegations, a more troubling reality is unfolding within the college walls—one of destruction, fear, and loss.
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Odo recounted the devastating fire that razed a major building within the institution in the early hours of Monday March 2, 2026.
“At about 2:13 a.m., I received a call that fire had gutted our council chambers. I was shocked,” he said.
The inferno, he noted, consumed critical academic and administrative units.
“That building housed our NCE exam unit, records unit, and postgraduate diploma in education offices. Nobody will hear of that without shedding tears,” he said.
Despite the magnitude of the loss, the authorities have also had to contend with insinuations that the fire was deliberately set from within.
“The authorities can never destroy what it has built. Anyone making such claims should be questioned,” Odo insisted.
Even more alarming, he said, is the pattern of coordinated vandalism that appears to follow such incidents.
“While we were still dealing with the fire, reports came in that wires were removed from our ICT unit and the music department,” he revealed.
The attacks extended to other parts of the institution.
“The School of Sciences was broken into, and items were carted away. In another incident, three external air-conditioning units were removed from the administrative block,” he said.
In some cases, stolen items were only recovered by chance.
“Our security men later found the stolen AC units hidden in nearby bushes,” he added.
According to Odo, these acts have become disturbingly frequent.
“This is usually happening at night. It has become a regular occurrence,” he said.
The college’s infrastructure has suffered heavily over time. In late 2023, vandals targeted the institution’s water treatment plant, leaving behind extensive damage.
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“They vandalised a newly installed plant worth over N50 million and left only the skeleton,” Odo disclosed.
The consequence has been severe for both staff and students.
“Since then, we rely on water tankers to supply water. What should have been a basic amenity is now a major challenge,” he said.
Electricity supply has also been crippled following the vandalisation of critical power infrastructure.
“They cut and removed part of our armoured cable. For about two months now, the college has been in darkness,” he revealed.
Despite the porous state of the campus, Odo maintained that student safety has not been compromised.
“We have not recorded any attack on students, but the situation is worrisome. We urgently need perimeter fencing,” he said.
He noted that although efforts have been made, support for fencing projects has remained limited.
“It is a big challenge. We have started fencing from the main gate, but we need more intervention,” he said.
Amid the crisis, the deputy provost defended the legacy of the outgoing provost, attributing the allegations to internal politics and vested interests.
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“At the end of every tenure, you begin to hear fabricated stories, especially from those interested in succession,” he said.
He alleged that some individuals resort to blackmail after failing to secure personal benefits.
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“Some demand contracts, and when you refuse, they begin to attack from within,” he claimed.
Odo, who has spent over three decades in the institution, including as a former student, said the college’s progress under the current leadership is visible.
“The provost has done a lot here. Nobody can paint her image black before those who know the truth,” he said.
Even with the destruction of key facilities, he expressed confidence in the institution’s resilience, particularly in safeguarding academic records.
“We operate a multi-layered system with backups from departments to ICT units. We may have challenges, but not as exaggerated,” he explained.
For many within and outside the college, the unfolding situation paints a distressing picture of an institution struggling to protect its assets, reputation, and future.
As night falls over the campus, bringing with it fears of yet another attack, the question remains how long the college can withstand the combined weight of sabotage and suspicion.
