School Students Abductions: Sokoto, Yobe Join Fray, Order Schools’ Closure
In response to the unappealing spate of student abductions, and to prevent possible reoccurrence, more northern state governments are ordering the temporal closure of boarding schools.
Following the kidnap of 317 schoolgirls in Jangebe, Zamfara State on Friday, the state government in a statewide broadcast made by the governor, Bello Matawalle, ordered that all boarding schools in the state be closed. The Kano State Government followed suit shortly after, when the Commissioner for Education, Mallam Muhammad Kiru, announced their decision to close 12 out of over 50 boarding schools.
TheFact Nigeria reports that Sokoto state government has now also closed all boarding secondary schools outside the metropolis.
The Secretary to the Sokoto state government (SSG), Alhaji Sa’idu Umar stated this shortly after the state security council meeting chaired by the state governor at Government House, Sokoto.
He said the decision was taken after the Commissioners of Basic and Secondary Education, Muhammad Bello Abubakar, Science and Technology, Kulu Haruna and Religious Affairs, Abdullahi Maigwandu briefed the council on the security situation of the schools.
After the briefing, the council deliberated on the issue based on the information available to them. Thereafter, the council unanimously agreed that all the boarding schools outside Sokoto metropolis will be closed so as to avert any security breach that will be an embarrassment to the state, parents and the general public.
The SSG said the schools will be closed for one week during which proper review and security arrangement will be put in place.
He said during this period students and teachers will be relocated to their locale to study and work as day outfits, stressing that the state government will supervise the exercise properly and ensure that there is quality assurance and security during the exercise.
He added that this will become the new norm until the security situation improves.
In a related development, various school authorities in Yobe state have asked students to vacate their hostels until they receive further directives from their principals.
The Yobe State Government ordered the shutdown of boarding schools over Boko Haram attacks and fears of students. However, the schools’ shutdown order did not affect students of SS3.
It was learnt on Sunday that Government Girls College, Damaturu students were seen moving out of the school premises to their respective parents and guardians who had arrived to take them safely home.
The College, before the shutdown order, was hosting Government Girls College, Buni Gari, which was relocated to Damaturu, the state capital because of terrorism in the state.
