Northern Fear Sparks Shutdown: Katsina, Plateau Close All Schools as Security Crisis Hits Breaking Point
By Paul Ebi
In a sweeping move underscoring growing insecurity across parts of northern Nigeria, the governments of Katsina and Plateau States have ordered the immediate shutdown of all public primary and secondary schools.
Katsina State Commissioner for Secondary and Basic Education, Yusuf Suleiman Jibia, confirmed that all public schools have been closed “till further notice.” He said the decision was taken to strengthen security around learning environments and protect the state’s educational system from emerging threats.
According to Jibia, the precautionary measure followed fresh intelligence and a series of security assessments indicating heightened risks to students and teachers. He assured that the government was working closely with security agencies to restore normalcy and would reopen schools only when it is safe to do so.
Similarly, the Plateau State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) has also directed the immediate closure of schools across the state. The board cited rising security concerns as the reason for the shutdown, urging school administrators, teachers, and parents to comply while authorities work to reinforce safety around educational institutions.
The twin decisions reflect escalating anxiety over attacks on schools, abductions, and widespread insecurity affecting communities across several states. Both governments have appealed for calm, promising to intensify security operations to ensure that students can return to learning without fear.
Parents and education stakeholders, however, have expressed mixed feelings—supporting the need for safety but worried about prolonged disruptions to academic calendars already strained by earlier crises.
For now, classrooms across Katsina and Plateau remain silent, awaiting assurances that the threat has passed and learning can resume safely.
