Taraba State Governor Agbu Kefas has directed that all public and private secondary schools in the state immediately shut their boarding facilities as part of urgent measures to address rising insecurity.
The directive was issued in a statement released on Friday by the Commissioner for Education, Dr. Augustina Godwin.
According to the commissioner, the decision follows worsening security threats across the country, which have made boarding students vulnerable to attacks. She referenced the recent incidents in Kebbi and Niger states, where dozens of students were kidnapped by armed groups. “The governor has instructed that all secondary schools operate strictly as day schools until further notice,” she said.
Dr. Godwin explained that principals and school owners have been mandated to ensure swift compliance with the deboarding order. She noted that the measure is aimed at protecting students and preventing any security breaches while efforts continue to restore safety in the region.
The commissioner assured parents and guardians that the state government is working closely with security agencies to strengthen surveillance and improve overall safety. She added that the decision, though inconvenient, is a necessary step to safeguard the lives of students.
She urged school authorities to intensify internal monitoring and maintain order as students transition from boarding to day school operations. The government also appealed for cooperation from stakeholders across the education sector to ensure the smooth implementation of the directive.
The announcement comes on the heels of new attacks on schools, including the abduction of several students from St. Mary’s School in Papiri, Niger State, during a midnight raid. Earlier in the week, twenty five female students were also abducted in Kebbi State, heightening nationwide concerns over student safety.
