Taraba State, located in North-East Nigeria, has implemented an emergency directive requiring all secondary schools across the state to shut down their boarding facilities due to the growing wave of insecurity affecting several parts of the country. The announcement was released on Friday through a statement issued by the Taraba State Commissioner for Education, Doctor Augustina Godwin.
According to the commissioner, the order was authorised by Governor Agbu Kefas after a review of the nationwide rise in attacks on educational institutions, particularly the kidnapping of students in different regions. She referenced the recent abductions recorded in Kebbi State in North-West Nigeria and Niger State in North-Central Nigeria as examples of the worsening security climate targeting schoolchildren.
Okay News reports that the directive mandates that all private and public secondary schools convert fully to day-school operations until further notice. Doctor Godwin explained that principals and school owners had been clearly instructed to ensure that all students are deboarded without delay.
The statement read, “In light of the current circumstances, Governor Kefas has issued a directive requiring all secondary schools, both public and private, to function exclusively as day schools for the time being. Principals and school owners have been advised to promptly arrange for the deboarding of all students.”
In elaborating on the government’s decision, the commissioner emphasised that the move is a preventative measure aimed at protecting learners within the state. She described it as a necessary step to avoid exposing children to avoidable harm as criminal activities escalate in surrounding regions. She added that the government has reassured parents of its commitment to restoring stability and will continue its close collaboration with security agencies.
School administrators have also been told to tighten their surveillance and ensure strict compliance with the new safety guidelines.
This directive comes at a time when student abductions continue to spark public concern. On Friday, several students of Saint Mary’s School in Papiri, located in Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State, were kidnapped during a midnight attack carried out by armed groups. Reports suggest that multiple schoolchildren were taken, although specific details remain unclear.
The incident occurred only a few days after a similar attack in Maga, a community in Kebbi State, where twenty-five students were abducted. These events have intensified calls for stronger protection of educational institutions across Nigeria.
