The Yobe State Government has ordered the closure of all boarding secondary schools as part of a proactive effort to protect students amid rising security concerns in the country.
This is as the Kebbi State Government ordered the immediate closure of all state-owned tertiary institutions, except the College of Nursing Sciences and Midwifery, Birnin Kebbi, citing heightened insecurity across the state.
The directive, issued on Saturday by Governor Mai Mala Buni, followed a security meeting he held with heads of security agencies in the state to review recent attacks targeting schools in other regions.
The development was announced in a statement released on Saturday, signed by the Director General of Press and Media Affairs to the Governor, Mohammed Mamman, and made available to reporters.
According to the statement, the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education has already circulated a notice mandating an immediate shutdown of the schools.
“A notice signed by the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Dr. Bukar Aji Bukar, directed immediate closure of all secondary schools pending improvement in the situation,” the statement noted.
Mamman added that Governor Buni urged residents to support ongoing security efforts through prayers.
“Governor Buni called on the people of the state to pray for the leadership, security operatives, peace and improved security in the country,” the statement added.
Yobe joins the list of northern states that have closed their boarding facilities following the abductions of students and the killing of innocent citizens.
Several students from St. Mary’s School in Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State, were kidnapped by terrorists in the early hours of Friday.
The incident comes just days after a similar attack in Maga, Kebbi State, where 25 students were kidnapped, heightening concerns over the deteriorating security situation in educational institutions across the region.
Meanwhile, the Kebbi State Government ordered the immediate closure of all state-owned tertiary institutions, except the College of Nursing Sciences and Midwifery, Birnin Kebbi, citing heightened insecurity across the state.
The directive was issued on Saturday by the state Commissioner for Higher Education, Alhaji Issa Tunga, in Birnin Kebbi.
Tunga said the decision became necessary following “cases of insecurity” that have affected several parts of the state in recent weeks.
“The affected tertiary institutions are the State Polytechnic, Dakingari; Kebbi State University of Science and Technology, Aliero; College of Health Sciences and Technology, Jega; and the College of Education, Argungu,” he stated.
He clarified that the College of Nursing Sciences and Midwifery, Birnin Kebbi, is the only institution not affected by the directive.
The commissioner urged the management of all affected institutions to comply fully with the government’s order.
He appealed for calm among students and staff, assuring them that further updates would be provided in due course.
“They should remain calm as the new resumption date will be communicated to them at the appropriate time,” he added.
The statement was signed by Ahmed Idris, Chief Press Secretary to the Kebbi State Governor.
About the Author
