Niger Government Shuts Down Schools Nationwide Amid Growing Security Concerns

Table of Contents

• Closure Order
• Press Briefing
• Rescue Efforts
• Affected Schools
• Security Concerns
• Abduction Update

Niger State Governor, Umaru Bago, has ordered the immediate closure of all schools throughout the state following the kidnapping of students and teachers from St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools in Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area.

Bago announced this directive on Saturday during a press briefing after an extensive security meeting in Minna, characterizing the attack as both “unfortunate and preventable.”

“This incident could have been avoided; however, this is not the time for assigning blame,” the governor stated. “Our focus now is on how we can rescue these children and everyone else who has been abducted.”

He urged security agencies, civil society organizations, organized labor, and religious leaders to come together and concentrate on rescue operations, highlighting the state government’s commitment to safeguarding lives and property.

According to him, the closure applies to all private and public primary and secondary schools, religious institutions, the Federal Government College Minna, and the nursing schools in Bida and Kontagora. He indicated that the shutdown would remain in effect until further notice.

Bago explained that this measure would also serve as an early Christmas break for schools in light of the escalating security concerns.

He mentioned that the exact number of abducted pupils had not yet been confirmed, stating that security agencies were conducting headcounts and that an official figure would be announced later in the day.