BREAKING: Chaos in Benue as Final-Year Students Set Principal’s House Ablaze Over NECO Scam

A shocking wave of violence has erupted in Benue State as final-year students of Gyutiev Model College reportedly set their principal’s house on fire after accusing him of fraudulently collecting ₦85,000 from each student without registering them for the NECO examination.

The incident, which occurred in the early hours of today, has thrown the local community into confusion and sparked outrage across social media.

According to eyewitness accounts, tensions had been brewing within the school premises for weeks as rumors circulated that the students’ names were missing from the National Examinations Council (NECO) database.

The final-year students, who had paid what they believed to be exam registration fees, were said to have repeatedly questioned the school administration about the status of their registration, only to be met with silence, excuses, and evasive responses. When it finally became clear that none of them had been registered, all hell broke loose.

In a fit of uncontrollable anger, the students reportedly mobilized, stormed the residence of the school principal — whose name has not yet been made public — and set the building ablaze, destroying valuable property and documents in the process.

Videos of the burning house have since surfaced online, with users expressing disbelief and fury over how students could be left hanging academically after paying such a substantial amount.

Many on social media are demanding justice for the students while others are questioning the rising trend of academic fraud and lack of accountability in Nigeria’s education system.

Sources within the local education authority say a formal investigation has been launched.

The Benue State Ministry of Education, in collaboration with law enforcement, has reportedly begun interrogating school staff and is working to determine how such a blatant scam could be perpetrated under the government’s nose.

If found guilty, the principal could face charges including academic fraud, embezzlement, and breach of public trust, all of which carry heavy penalties under Nigerian law.

Google Trends data shows a massive spike in related search queries like “Benue students burn principal house,” “NECO scam in Benue,” and “Gyutiev College exam fraud.”

The incident has not only drawn attention from within Nigeria but is beginning to gain traction internationally as another painful example of the rot within the educational system in parts of the country.

For the affected students, this disaster represents more than just money lost — it’s the death of a dream. Without NECO registration, they face the harsh reality of repeating an entire academic year, falling behind their peers, and missing out on admission opportunities into tertiary institutions.

Parents, meanwhile, are calling for the immediate arrest of all those responsible, vowing to pursue legal action and demanding the state government step in to compensate their children.

In a nation where education is often the only ladder out of poverty, this act of betrayal by a supposed school leader is more than just a scandal — it is a brutal crime against the future.