The Benue and Sokoto state governments have ordered the closure of boarding schools in the states following the abduction of students of Government Science Secondary School, Kankara, Katsina State.
In Benue, Governor Samuel Ortom announced the decision on Thursday, just as he had directed the Commissioner for Education to complete necessary steps to close all boarding schools in the state as a preventive measure against abduction of students.
He said if hundreds of students could be abducted in Katsina, the home state of the president, no place was safe again.
Sokoto, in its part, ordered the closure of 16 schools for two weeks.
The affected schools are located in boundary communities.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Muhammad Bello, in a statement, said the decision was reached after the 17th meeting of the State Security Council on Wednesday.
Bello said: ‘The Sokoto State government has ordered the immediate closure of 16 boarding schools along its borderlines.
“This followed the brief received by the Council from the state’s Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Dr Muhammad Bello Abubakar Guiwa, on the security situation in the affected areas and the threats this portends.
“The affected schools are: Government Girls Model Secondary School, Illela; Sultan Muhammadu Tambari Arabic Secondary School, Illela; Gamji Girls College, Rabah; Government Secondary School, Gada; Government Secondary School, Gandi and Government Secondary School, Goronyo.
“Others are: Government Secondary School, Isa; Government Secondary School, Sabon Birnin Gobir; Boarding Primary School, Isa; Boarding Primary School, Balle and Boarding Primary School, Jabo.
“The remaining schools are: UBE Junior Secondary School, Sabon Birni; Government Secondary School, Kebbe; Government Secondary School, Tureta; Government Technical College, Binji and Olusegun Obasanjo Technical College, Bafarawa.”
The statement quoted the state governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, as saying the schools would be closed for two weeks.
“The governor directed the Ministries of Basic and Secondary Education and that of Science and Technology to temporarily merge the students of the affected schools with those of other schools for the continuation of their studies pending the improvement in the security situation of the affected areas.
“Accordingly, principals of the affected schools are, hereby, directed to comply with immediate effect.”
