Northern States Shut Schools As Fear Spreads

Several Northern states have closed schools and hostels after the latest mass abduction in Niger State, where 303 students and 12 teachers were taken from St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools in Papiri, Agwarra.

The move followed rising concerns that more institutions could be targeted as attacks on students continue to spread across the region.

Parents in Plateau and Niger rushed to pick up their children on Saturday after both states ordered all public, private and tertiary schools in high-risk areas to shut down. Many students were preparing for first-term exams before authorities enforced the closure, leaving communities unsettled and anxious.

Niger State Governor Mohammed Bago described the abduction as tragic and avoidable but urged residents to focus on rescuing the victims instead of pointing fingers. He said the shutdown would remain in place until further notice and would also serve as an early Christmas break. He added that security agencies were still confirming the exact number of abducted children through headcounts.

More states followed suit. Taraba directed all public and private secondary schools to close boarding facilities after similar attacks in Kebbi and Niger. Plateau had already taken the same step earlier in the week. In Kaduna, police deployed extra patrols to vulnerable institutions, including Federal University Kachia, while boosting surveillance in rural communities. Katsina ordered all schools to close, and Kebbi’s Abdullahi Fodio University of Science and Technology, Aliero suspended activities indefinitely over security concerns.

In Niger, the Christian Association of Nigeria completed a verification exercise and confirmed that 303 students and 12 teachers were abducted. CAN Chairman Bulus Yohanna said more children were later reported missing, leading to another round of checks. He dismissed claims that the school ignored warnings to shut down and assured parents that the church is cooperating with security agencies to secure the release of all abductees.

Security forces are also tracking the group responsible for kidnapping 25 girls from Government Girls’ Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, in Kebbi. Minister of State for Defence Bello Matawalle said intelligence teams are closing in on the location where the students are being held, adding that federal and state authorities are working together under President Bola Tinubu’s directive to bring them home.

The Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy postponed this year’s National Festival of Arts and Culture, which was set to begin on November 22 in Enugu. The ministry said the decision came after reviewing the national mood and recent violence, noting that the postponement was a show of support for affected communities.

The Middle Belt Forum accused unnamed military and political elements of enabling terrorists and working against the government’s efforts. Its President Bitrus Pogu likened today’s situation to the period when attacks escalated under former President Goodluck Jonathan and urged the government to remove compromised officers and consider foreign assistance. Retired General John Sura added that the attackers are waging open war and called for a stronger joint effort between communities and the military.

In Kwara, the APC Elders Forum condemned the attack on worshippers at a church in Eruku. The group said bandit raids across the region have killed vigilantes, forest guards and traditional rulers, forcing many communities to flee. They extended condolences to the Owa of Eruku and called for swift government action.

The Lagos APC also raised alarm over internal sabotage. The party said the patterns seen in recent attacks suggest insider involvement rather than operational gaps. Spokesman Seye Oladejo said those aiding the attackers would be exposed and praised the Armed Forces for working under difficult conditions.