Katsina, Plateau order closure of schools as banditry surges
The Katsina and Plateau state governments have ordered the closure of schools following rising banditry attacks targeting educational institutions across parts of the country.
In Katsina, Yusuf Jibia, commissioner for basic and secondary education, announced the shutdown while briefing journalists on Friday.
He said the decision was taken to safeguard students and teachers as security agencies roll out a new statewide school safety strategy.
Jibia noted that the directive affects even students currently sitting examinations, stressing that protecting lives and property remains the government’s top priority.
He added that the closure is a temporary measure and will remain in place pending a comprehensive security review of identified high-risk areas. Normal academic activities, he said, will resume once the assessment is concluded and adequate protection measures are implemented.
He urged parents, teachers and residents to comply with the directive, assuring that officials are monitoring the security situation closely.
In Plateau, the state government announced a similar decision.
Richard Jonah, public relations officer of the Plateau Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), confirmed the closure in a statement issued on Friday in Jos.
Jonah said the move underscores “the urgent need for preventive action and to safeguard lives and property in the state.”
According to him, government junior model secondary schools will close from Saturday, November 22, while primary and day schools will shut down from Monday, November 24.
He described the measure as temporary but necessary to forestall potential security threats, saying it is expected to reassure communities that the government is prioritising the safety of pupils and students.
Jonah also urged local government education authorities, school administrators and community leaders to comply fully with the directive and remain vigilant.
The decisions by both state governments follow recent abductions of secondary school students in Kebbi and Niger states, incidents that have heightened anxiety among parents and authorities across the north-west.
