The Katsina and Plateau state governments have ordered the immediate closure of public schools following a surge in banditry attacks targeting educational institutions across northern Nigeria, PLATFORM TIMES reports.
The directives were issued on Friday amid growing fear among parents after fresh cases of student abductions in Kebbi and Niger states intensified concerns over school safety.
In Katsina, the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Yusuf Jibia, told journalists that the state had no option but to suspend academic activities to protect students and teachers.
According to him, the order affects even students currently sitting for examinations.
“This decision is necessary to safeguard our children and teachers as security agencies implement the new statewide school safety strategy,” Jibia said.
He added that the shutdown—described as temporary—would remain in force until security operatives conclude a comprehensive risk assessment of identified vulnerable schools.
Jibia urged parents, teachers and community leaders to support the government, assuring them that academic activities would resume once “adequate protection measures” are put in place.
In Plateau, the Public Relations Officer of the Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Richard Jonah, confirmed the directive in a statement issued in Jos.
Jonah said the move underscores the urgent need for preventive action as the state intensifies measures to safeguard schoolchildren.
According to the statement, Government Junior Model Secondary Schools will shut down from Saturday, November 22, while primary and day schools will close from Monday, November 24.
“This is a temporary but necessary step to forestall potential security threats. Communities must be reassured that the safety of pupils and students remains the priority of government,” Jonah stated.
He urged local government education authorities and school heads to comply fully and maintain vigilance as security agencies continue surveillance across vulnerable communities.
The latest shutdowns follow recent high-profile abductions—including the kidnapping of schoolgirls in Kebbi, and the attack on a Catholic school in Niger State, where several students were seized by armed men.
The repeated attacks have deepened fears across the north-west, with education advocates warning that the region may witness a further decline in school enrollment if urgent measures are not taken.
Security analysts say the closures reflect the increasing fragility of education in conflict-prone areas, especially as bandits shift focus towards soft targets such as schools.
Parents who spoke to newsmen expressed anxiety over the disruptions but agreed that safety must come first.
Many appealed to federal and state authorities to strengthen intelligence gathering and improve rapid response mechanisms around schools.
The shutdowns in Katsina and Plateau come on the same day the federal government announced the temporary closure of 47 Unity Colleges across Nigeria, signalling a broader effort to prevent further attacks on schoolchildren.
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