Following the abduction of 333 students at Government Science Secondary School, Kankara in Katsina, neighbouring states, Jigawa and Zamfara, have closed their schools.
Recall that the students were abducted by gunmen since Friday, 11th December.
The Katsina government said 333 students were abducted.
But Boko Haram, a terrorist organisation, which has claimed responsibility for the attacks, said its fighters took over 500 students.
The terror group’s leader, Abubakar Shekau, stated this on Tuesday.
“What happened in Katsina was done to promote Islam and discourage un-Islamic practices as Western education is not the type of education permitted by Allah and his Holy Prophet,” Mr Shekau was quoted to have said.
President Muhammadu Buhari is currently in Katsina, his home state on a private visit. He is yet to personally visit the school.
Zamfara
In Zamfara, the government announced the closure of 10 schools in council areas sharing borders with Katsina and Kaduna amidst insecurity in the North-west region.
The state’s Commissioner for Education, Ibrahim Gusau, said the closure was to forestall any breakdown of law and order.
The official said other schools outside affected locations will continue academic activities.
“The affected schools are at a location sharing boundaries with Katsina and Kaduna states and given the current situation in the neighbouring Katsina state, we felt compelled to close these schools even though the term is ending in one week’s time,” he said.
The affected schools are :
G.S.S. Tsafe (Raka boarding)
G.S.S Birnin Magaji (Boarding)
G.D.S.S. Nasarawa Mailayi(Day)
G.D.S.S. Gusami (Day)
G.A.S.S. Zurmi(Boarding)
G.D.S.S. Gurbin Bore (Day)
G.G.S.S. Moriki (Boarding)
Science Secondary School Shinkafi (Boarding)
Science Secondary School Dansadau (Boarding)
Science Secondary School Bukkuyum (Boarding)
Jigawa
Jigawa also announced the closure of all schools without stating any reasons.
The acting permanent secretary, Ministry of Education, Rabiu Adamu, said the development “is with immediate effect”.
The government advised parents “to prepare for the evacuation of their children back home tomorrow on 16th December.”
Kano too
Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, has ordered the immediate closure of all public and private schools in the state.
The Kano State Commissioner of Education, Sanusi Kiru, who disclosed this on Tuesday evening, said the state government also closed down “all public and private health training institutions, including schools of basic/postbasic nursing and midwifery, schools of health technology and school of hygiene with immediate effect.”
The commissioner asked parents whose children are in boarding schools to pick them on Wednesday.
“His Excellency, The Executive Governor of Kano State has approved the closure of all public and Private Schools in the State with immediate effect,” he said.
“Parents whose children are in boarding schools are to also arrange and convey their children/ wards back home from tomorrow, Wednesday, 16th December 2020.”
It is not however immediately clear whether the reason for the schools closure is connected to Katsina abductions as the government gave no explicit reason for its decision.
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