6 Weeks After Kagara Abduction, Niger State Directs Schools To Reopen

Posted by Nwa Diokpa Featured, Latest Headlines, News, News Across Nigeria, News From The State Monday, March 29th, 2021

(AFRICAN EXAMINER) – The Niger government has directed public schools in the state to reopen from Monday.

The state commissioner for education, Hannatu Salihu, disclosed that schools with day students will resume studies on March 29 and boarding secondary schools in urban areas will reopen on April 6.

African Examiner recalls that the schools have been closed for about two months after attacks on learning institutions in the north and the abduction of 27 students from the Government Science College, Kagara, Niger state on February 10. The students were later rescued.

In the aftermath of the Kagara attack, the state government directed the immediate closure of boarding schools in four LGAs, but subsequently extended the closure to all secondary schools in the state.

According to the government, the closure was to allow security agencies to conduct a comprehensive risk assessment of the schools.

However, in a statement on saturday, the commissioner enjoined that schools have been directed to establish security teams to ensure safety within learning environments.

The statement reads as follows:

“All public day secondary schools are to reopen on Monday, March 29, 2021. All boarding secondary schools in urban areas are to reopen on Tuesday, April 6, 2021,

“Low risk boarding secondary schools in rural areas that are to run as day schools during the period are also to reopen on Tuesday, April 6, 2021.

“Public day secondary schools in areas of high risk that would run in clusters with selected safe schools in nearby communities would reopen on a later date to be announced after adequate arrangements are concluded.

“Students from other communities in the boarding schools that would operate as day schools during the period would be moved to other boarding/day secondary schools in their localities.

“All principals have been provided with specific details in respect of the arrangement under (1) – (4). Therefore, they are expected to work under and in collaboration with their zonal directors to ensure compliance in the light of the demands of current security realities.

“All schools, especially those at high risk, would be provided with adequate security meant to enhance the capacity of the school system and security personnel to respond to threats.

“To this end, every school must immediately form a formidable Security team, consisting of School Officials, Security Personnel, PTA, SBMC and Vigilante with active community participation to allow for strong security presence in and around the Schools.”