Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State has announced the closure of all boarding schools in the state to prevent activities of insurgents against students.
Matawalle made the announcement in a statewide broadcast on Friday in Gusau.
The governor said that the decision was sequel to the abduction of 317 students of Government Girls Science Secondary School, Jangebe in Talata-Mafara Local Government Area of the state by gunmen in the early hours of Friday.
“Myself, and the entire state government and the citizens are deeply touched by this development which is the abduction of students from their school and this is the first of its kind in the state.
“Already, we are currently partnering with security agents and trailing all the suspected bandits’ routes,” he said
According to him, this is in addition to helicopters that the state government chartered to carry out aerial surveillance of the bushes for possible detection of the whereabouts of the students.
“I want to assure the parents of the victims that we are doing everything possible to rescue the victims and reunite them with their families.
“This is indeed not the time to trade blames but we need to come together regardless of our political differences to save these our children,” the governor pleaded.
He said that 65 of the students escaped and had returned to the school.
Residents of Jangebe and neighbouring villages had remained apprehensive as a result of the attack.
Also, the Kano State Government has ordered the immediate closure of 12 out of the over 50 boarding schools in the state to ensure the safety of students.
Malam Muhammad Kiru, Commissioner for Education, confirmed this on Friday in Kano.
According to him, the decision to close the schools followed the recent kidnapping of some female boarding school students in Niger and Zamfara states.
He said: “It was necessary for the Kano State Government to take proactive measures to prevent the occurrence of such incidents in our schools.
“As you know, the state government always takes proactive measures on issues related to security, especially that it affects students.
“Therefore, we are appealing to parents and guardians to immediately vacate their children from the schools, as the government will later announce the resumption day.
“The affected schools include boarding Secondary School Ajingi; Government Girls boarding School Sumaila; Government Girls boarding School Jogana, and Government Girls boarding School Gezawa.
“Others include Government Boys boarding School Kafin Maiyaki; Maitama Sule boarding School Gaya; Government Girls boarding School Kachako.
“And also Government Girls boarding School Unguwan Gyartai in Kunchi; Boys Unity School Karaye; Government Girls Arabic School in Albasu; Government Secondary School Tudun Wada and also that of Danzabuwa.”
According to the commissioner, most of these schools are located along borders with neighbouring states, while some are along highways where they can be easily attacked.
