The Niger State government says it will close all public schools in the state for two weeks to enable authorities to assess the level of threat of insecurity and its impact on schools.

 

The declaration was made by the State’s Ministry of Education, which said it had directed all the affected schools to close from tomorrow, Friday, March 12th to Friday, March 26th, 2021.

 

Hajiya Hannatu Salihu, the Commissioner of Education, closing the schools would enable security agencies to conduct a comprehensive risk assessment of all public secondary schools.

 

The announcement was made via a statement issued by the state Public Enlightenment Unit on social media on Thursday.

 

“Please be informed that the Niger State Government has directed that all public Secondary schools in the state be closed from March 12th to 26th, 2021.

 

“This is to enable security agencies to conduct a comprehensive risk assessment of all public Secondary schools.

 

“When completed, the exercise will provide an all-inclusive mechanism and strategies that will restore and guarantee sustainable security and safety of students, schools’ infrastructure, education managers and teachers in Niger state,” the statement said.

 

Niger State is one of the states that have experienced mass abduction of students from schools by bandits who now roam Nigeria’s forests and control the highways while kidnapping scores of citizens for ransom.

 

In February, bandits abducted about 19 passengers travelling on a Niger State-owned transportation company bus, and a week later they invaded the Government Science College, Kagara, and took away scores of students and some workers. The victims have all been released after a ransom was paid.