By Peter Salami
A wave of school closures has swept across northern Nigeria as fear mounts over the escalating abduction of students. Several states, acting on fresh security intelligence, have shut down all or most schools in a desperate bid to prevent further kidnappings.
In Niger State, Governor Umaru Bago on Saturday ordered all schools to close immediately after armed men abducted pupils from St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area. Speaking after an expanded security meeting in Minna, Bago described the attack as “unfortunate and avoidable,” stressing that the priority now is to secure the release of the abducted children.
“This is not the time for a blame game,” he said. “Our mission today is to rescue these children and all those taken alongside. Nigeria is the only country we have, and Niger remains our state. We must protect our people.”
The directive affects all private and public primary and secondary schools, religious schools, Federal Government College Minna, and the schools of nursing in Bida and Kontagora. He said the closure, which serves as an early Christmas break, would remain in effect until security improves. The exact number of abducted students is still being verified.
The Papiri attack came just days after terrorists kidnapped 25 students in Maga, Kebbi State—an incident that further rattled the region.
In Adamawa State, Governor Ahmadu Fintiri ordered the deboarding of all public and private boarding schools. Commissioner for Education, Dr. Umar Pella, said the decision was aimed at preventing a repeat of the Niger and Kebbi tragedies. “It has been observed with great dismay that the target of these evil perpetrators is boarding secondary schools,” the government warned.
Taraba State followed suit. Governor Agbu Kefas directed that all secondary schools, public and private, immediately operate strictly as day schools. Commissioner for Education, Dr. Augustina Godwin, said the move was necessitated by nationwide security concerns and the rising trend of attacks on educational institutions.
Kebbi State took an even more sweeping step, shutting all public and private secondary schools as well as most tertiary institutions. According to a joint statement by Higher Education Commissioner Issa Abubakar-Tunga and Basic Education Commissioner Halima Bande, the closures include the state polytechnic in Dakingari, Kebbi State University of Science and Technology in Aliero, College of Health Sciences and Technology in Jega, and the College of Education in Argungu. Only the College of Nursing Sciences and Midwifery in Birnin Kebbi is exempt.
In Yobe, Governor Mai Mala Buni also ordered the immediate closure of all boarding secondary schools after a security review. His spokesperson, Mamman Mohammed, said the decision was a proactive measure to safeguard students amid heightened threats. Permanent Secretary Dr. Bukar Aji-Bukar emphasized that the shutdown is temporary and subject to improved security conditions.
Across the northern states, officials are urging calm, compliance, and collective vigilance as they brace for what many fear may become a prolonged battle to protect children and restore safety to the country’s schools.