In the year 2024, the city of Beni has been rattled by appalling violence, jeopardizing the safety and well-being of its students. The Beni Youth Parliament has urgently appealed to the authorities to put an end to the attacks on schools by demonstrators during recent public protests.
The disturbing events that unfolded on Monday, April 22, and Tuesday, April 23, painted a bleak picture: groups of young protestors, expressing their frustration with the persistent insecurity in the city, stormed into schools and viciously assaulted students with projectiles. These barbaric acts, as described by Samuel-Don Katembo Sekanabo, the president of the Beni Youth Parliament, have not only appalled the population but have also underscored the critical need to safeguard innocent young learners.
The sanctity of schools is a cornerstone principle that must be upheld at all costs. The assault on Kisungu Institute and Bungulu Institute, where protesters targeted students with stones, causing injuries, raises fundamental questions about the motives driving such attackers. Why would educational institutions, which are bastions of knowledge and growth, be subjected to violence in the context of social and political grievances?
Samuel-Don Katembo Sekanabo implores the authorities to take stringent actions against those responsible for these acts of violence, and to prohibit any demonstrations that could endanger school security. He emphasizes the individual and collective accountability of young people in their actions, stressing that violence can never be justified, especially when directed at educational establishments.
Schools are sacred spaces where the future of a nation is nurtured. It is imperative that we, as a society, unite to denounce such assaults and work towards fostering peace and security for all citizens, particularly the younger generations in Beni.
Ultimately, irrespective of differences and valid demands, safeguarding the dignity and integrity of schools must remain a top priority. These hubs of knowledge are where the very fabric of society is woven, and each attack inflicted upon them not only harms our societal structure but also jeopardizes our collective destiny. The time has come for us to stand together, raise our voices, and shield our schools, our children, and our shared future from harm.
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