FCTA orders early closure of senior secondary schools over security concerns

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has directed all public senior secondary schools in Abuja, the nation’s capital, to shut down on or before Friday, November 28, citing urgent security concerns.

In a memo issued on Tuesday by Aishatu Sani Alhassan, director of school services, FCT secondary education board, seen by TheCable, principals and heads of schools were instructed to end all academic activities immediately and ensure students are dismissed “in an orderly and safe manner.”

The memo is titled: URGENT NEED FOR EARLY CLOSURE OF SCHOOLS DUE TO SECURITY CONCERNS.

Schools have also been directed to notify learners, staff, and parents; adjust all scheduled academic activities; and prepare to resume on the next official school day unless new directives are issued.

The memo urged all school authorities to treat the notice as “important and urgent.”

This comes on the heels of rising attacks on schools in parts of the country.

The federal government had on November 12 ordered the closure of all the unity schools across the country should close down after the school attack in Kebbi and Niger states.

On November 12, 25 female students were abducted by bandits from Government Girls Secondary School, Maga, Kebbi state.

According to a BBC report, two of the girls have escaped from their captors. Quoting Hussaini Aliyu, an official from Danko Wasagu LGA, the BBC reported that the two students ran away as they were being led into the bushes by the bandits and escaped across farmland.

On November 21, Niger state government announced that bandits have abducted several students and members of staff from the St. Mary’s School in Papiri, Agwara LGA.

The Catholic diocese of Kotangora said 315 people — including 303 students and 12 teachers, were abducted from the school.(The Cable)