Niger Announces Closure Of Private, Public Schools; Tertiary Institutions Affected

By Ayodele Oni

Niger State Government has ordered the closure of all public, private Primary and Secondary Schools across the State.

This is coming a day after some students and teachers of St Mary’s Catholic School Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area of the State were abducted during a Dawn raid of their hostels by bandits.

Governor Umaru Mohammed Bago who spoke shortly after the security meeting with heads of security agencies announced that all Tertiary Institutions in Niger North Senatorial District and other vulnerable areas in Niger East Senatorial District are to be closed down as well.

The governor called on all heads of security agencies, Civil Society Organisations, the organized labour and religious leaders to focus on the rescue of the children and reiterated that the government will continue to protect the lives and property of its citizens.

Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Biological Ibrahim, stated that Bago, who described the incident as sad and unfortunate, added that the overall mission is to see how the kidnapped children and other kidnapped victims will be rescued.

He said the number of children kidnapped from the St. Mary’s Catholic School has not been ascertained as the Department of State Service, Nigeria Police and other security agencies are already carrying out headcount to ascertain the actual figure.

The Christian Association of Nigeria, (CAN) has put the number of those abducted during Friday invasion at 227.

The state government in an early response to the incident blamed management of the school for failing to comply with directive not to reopen.

In a statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Abubakar Usman, on Friday, November 21, 2025, the Government said  it had prior intelligence information on the activities of terrorists in the area, and warned schools not to open.

It, however, regretted that the management of the School, shunned the order, and opened, thus, exposing the students and teachers to danger.