Niger State Governor, Mohammed Bago, has ordered the immediate closure of all schools across the state until after the New Year, following the shocking abduction of more than 300 students from St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools in Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area.
Governor Bago made the announcement while speaking with journalists in Minna after a high-level security and stakeholders’ meeting held at the Government House to address the current wave of insecurity.
He explained that the shutdown affects all categories of educational institutions — public and private schools, Islamic and missionary schools, federal government colleges, and selected tertiary institutions such as schools of nursing and midwifery. Schools located in areas considered high-risk, especially in Niger North, will remain closed indefinitely until the security situation improves.
Describing the abduction as a painful incident that could have been prevented, Governor Bago said the government would prioritize rescue efforts rather than engage in blame games.
“To forestall further occurrences, we cannot take any chances. Schools were originally scheduled to close in two weeks for Christmas, but we have decided that all schools in Niger State will shut down immediately until after the New Year. Those in security-affected areas will remain closed until further notice,” he said.
He also stated that the exact number of abducted pupils, students, and teachers has not yet been confirmed.
“We’ve seen different figures in the media, but none are official. The DSS, police, and other security agencies are carrying out a proper headcount, and by the end of today, we will have the verified number,” the governor added.
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