Nigerian Gov't Closes Schools Amid Growing Insecurity

Why it matters:

The insecurity challenges in Nigeria have significantly impacted the country's education sector, which could, in turn, undermine the nation’s development as one of the leading economies in Africa.

ِDriving the news:

The Nigerian Government on Friday evening announced the closure of 47 Federal Unity Colleges across the country, citing insecurity challenges as the reason. Federal Unity Colleges (FUCs) are a network of prestigious secondary schools operated by the federal government to provide high-quality education.

On the ground:

On Monday, armed bandits stormed the Government Girls Comprehensive Senior Secondary School (GGCSS) in Maga, located in the Danko Wasagu area of Kebbi State. They killed Vice-Principal Hassan Yakubu Makuku and abducted 25 students. In another attack on Friday at around 2:00 a.m., heavily armed terrorists targeted St. Mary’s School, a Catholic institution in the Papiri community, Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State, abducting an unconfirmed number of students and staff.

On Friday, authorities in Katsina State, one of the regions hardest hit by banditry, ordered the closure of schools to prevent further abductions. Yusuf Jibia, Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, announced the decision while addressing journalists. Meanwhile, in Plateau State, the Plateau State Universal Basic Education Board (PSUBEB) directed the immediate shutdown of all junior and senior schools, calling it a preventive measure against potential "security threats."

What we're hearing:

According to a circular obtained by Iran Press, Nigeria’s Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, ordered the closures.

• “Sequel to the recent insecurity challenges in some parts of the country and the need to prevent any security breaches, the Honorable Minister of Education has approved the immediate closure of the listed Federal Unity Colleges (FUCs),” the announcement stated.

Go deeper:

Amnesty International reports that in the two years since President Bola Ahmad Tinubu took office, more than 10,217 people have been killed in armed attacks across the states of Benue, Edo, Katsina, Kebbi, Plateau, Sokoto, and Zamfara.