All public schools in Niger State have been directed to reopen today, 29 Monday 2021, 40 days after they were shut indefinitely following the abduction of students and workers from Government Science College in Rafi Local Government, Kagara, last month.
The state government also directed that only day students should resume March 29 while boarding secondary schools in urban areas will reopen on April 6.
WuzupNigeria reports that the bandits, who invaded the school on February 17, had abducted 27 students, three teachers, two non-teaching staff, and nine family members of the staff.
The victims were later released on Saturday, February 27 to a team of police and other security agents around 7 am.
In the statement on Saturday, the state commissioner for education, Hannatu Salihu said schools have been directed to establish security teams to ensure safety within learning environments.
“All public day secondary schools are to reopen on Monday, March 29, 2021. All boarding secondary schools in urban areas are to reopen on Tuesday, April 6, 2021,” the statement reads.
“Low risk boarding secondary schools in rural areas that are to run as day schools during the period are also to reopen on Tuesday, April 6, 2021.
“Public day secondary schools in areas of high risk that would run in clusters with selected safe schools in nearby communities would reopen on a later date to be announced after adequate arrangements are concluded.
“Students from other communities in the boarding schools that would operate as day schools during the period would be moved to other boarding/day secondary schools in their localities.
“All principals have been provided with specific details in respect of the arrangement under (1) – (4). Therefore, they are expected to work under and in collaboration with their zonal directors to ensure compliance in the light of the demands of current security realities.
“All schools, especially those at high risk, would be provided with adequate security meant to enhance the capacity of the school system and security personnel to response to threats.
“To this end, every school must immediately form a formidable Security team, comprising of School Officials, Security Personnel, PTA, SBMC and Vigilante with active community participation to allow for strong security presence in and around the Schools.”
