Rising insecurity across the North has forced the Federal Government and several state authorities to halt academic activities in vulnerable areas following a series of school attacks and abductions.
The latest incident occurred on Friday at St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State, where gunmen invaded the premises around 2am and abducted 215 pupils and 12 teachers. The assault came barely four days after 26 girls were taken from Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, in Kebbi State.
During the Kebbi attack, the assailants reportedly killed the Vice Principal, Hasan Makuku, and injured the school’s principal. Two of the abducted girls later escaped — one on Monday night and another shortly after the gunmen fled with their captives.
In response, President Bola Tinubu ordered the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, to relocate to Kebbi to coordinate rescue efforts.
A staff member at the Niger school confirmed that the bandits, arriving on more than 100 motorcycles, broke into the hostels while students were asleep. “The attack lasted for one hour before they whisked the victims away,” the source said.
The Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria in Niger State, Most Rev. Bulus Yohanna, said after visiting the community that 215 pupils and 12 teachers were missing.
“I met with parents of the children to assure them that we are working with the government and security agencies to see that our children are rescued and brought back safely,” he said.
“From our records, 215 pupils and students and 12 teachers were abducted by the terrorists… I want to call on everyone to remain calm and prayerful.”
Niger State police spokesperson, Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed the attack, noting that security operatives had been deployed to the area, though the exact number of victims was still being verified. He added that the school would face sanctions for disregarding an earlier directive to suspend operations in unsafe zones.
Widespread school closures
In a sweeping move, the Federal Government on Friday ordered the immediate closure of 41 unity schools across several northern states due to escalating threats. A circular signed by the Director of Senior Secondary Education, Binta Abdulkadir, listed the affected schools, which include unity colleges in Kano, Kaduna, Katsina, Zamfara, Gombe, Borno, Kwara and the FCT.
State governments have also taken precautionary steps.
In Niger, all boarding schools in the Niger North Senatorial District were shut. Kwara closed schools in four local government areas — Isin, Irepodun, Ifelodun and Ekiti — following fresh security alerts.
Plateau ordered the closure of all basic schools statewide. “The government is being proactive because we don’t want anything like that to happen here,” said SUBEB spokesperson Richard Jonah.
Katsina halted activities in all public schools, even as students sit for examinations. Commissioner Yusuf Jibia said the decision was necessary as authorities review security risks.
In Benue, the NUT chairman, Akuma Terna, disclosed that about 50 schools had remained closed due to attacks, with many pupils now in IDP camps.
States tighten school security
Authorities in Sokoto and Kebbi said they were reinforcing security around schools rather than opting for shutdowns.
“We have activated the necessary security arrangements across public schools,” a senior Sokoto government official said.
Kebbi’s Chief Press Secretary, Ahmed Idris, also assured residents that the state would keep schools open. “The safety of our children is a top priority… With the arrangements we have made, learning activities will continue smoothly until the term ends,” he said.
