FEAR OF BANDITS: Niger shuts all secondary schools

The Niger state government has ordered the closure of all secondary schools.

Th directive affects all private and public secondary schools in the state.

Education commissioner Hannatu Salihu announced this on Thursday during an emergency consultative meeting with the leadership of Association of Proprietors of Private Schools and Association of Model Islamic Schools.

The development is coming three days after 19 residents were abducted by bandits during an attack in Kutunku village in Wushishi local government area of the state.

The schools will be shut effective March 12 and will remain closed till March 26.

The state had initially shut its boarding schools following the abduction of schoolchildren at the Government Science College (GSC), Kagara.

Salihu said the two-week closure was to enable security agencies to conduct a comprehensive risk assessment of the schools.

She said the directive was based on the decision taken during a meeting with officials from various security agencies in the state.

Also at the meeting were the executive chairman, Universal Basic Education Board, heads of education agencies, directors of the ministry and other stakeholders.

The commissioner said the exercise will provide an all-inclusive mechanism and strategies that will restore and guarantee sustainable security and safety of students, school infrastructure, education managers and teachers.

The state has been plagued by kidnapping and banditry lately.