Security Concerns Force Closure of Schools
By Naija Enquirer Staff
The Federal Government has ordered the immediate closure of 41 Federal Unity Colleges following renewed security threats and a series of deadly attacks targeting schools in northern Nigeria.
The directive was issued in a circular dated 21 November and signed by Binta Abdulkadir, Director of Senior Secondary Education, after armed men invaded two schools in Kebbi and Niger States, abducting students and killing at least one school official.
According to the circular, the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, approved the shutdown “to prevent any security breaches.” The affected schools include unity colleges in Minjibir, Zaria, Daura, Potiskum, Buni Yadi, Gusau, Birnin Yauri, Azare, Ganye, Abaji, Bajoga, Billiri and Zambuk.
One of the most recent incidents occurred in Kebbi State, where gunmen stormed the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga, abducting 25 students and shooting dead the vice-principal, Malam Hassan Makaku, as he tried to resist the attackers.
Security reports show that Nigeria has recorded more than 1,680 student abductions between 2014 and 2022, fueling fears that the nation may be experiencing a resurgence of school-targeted violence.
States Respond with Emergency Shutdowns
The federal directive has triggered a wave of precautionary school closures across several states.
In Taraba, Governor Agbu Kefas ordered all secondary schools—private and public—to immediately send boarding students home. Schools will now operate strictly as day schools, according to Education Commissioner, Dr. Augustina Godwin, who cited rising threats and the recent abductions in Kebbi and Niger.
Plateau State also announced a phased shutdown. Junior secondary schools will close from 22 November, while primary schools are scheduled to close starting 24 November. A statement from the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) stressed that the move is preventive, emphasizing that the safety of pupils “remains a top priority.”
Katsina State has gone further, ordering the closure of all public primary and secondary schools until further notice. The announcement came from the Commissioner for Secondary and Basic Education, Yusuf Suleiman Jibia, who said the measure aims to strengthen school security amid growing threats.
Temporary but Necessary
The Ministry of Education described the closures as temporary but unavoidable, urging school principals to comply fully as security agencies respond to emerging threats. State governments have appealed for public cooperation, advising parents and school authorities to remain vigilant.
