SALIU SALIU
KEBBI State has directed the closure of seven schools located in vulnerable areas.
The closure followed the recent abduction of students and teachers of the Federal Government College, Birnin Yauri, by gunmen.
Chairman, National Union of Teachers, Kebbi chapter, Isah Arzika, disclosed this, noting that the affected schools were located in vulnerable areas and believed to be soft targets for bandits.
In this regard, all principals have been directed to close any school considered to be unsafe.
Police and vigilante groups have also reportedly been deployed for monitoring and protection of schools.
The NUT Chairman said, “Government has given us an order and option to take any necessary action as far as our schools are concerned; that we can close those schools which we think are not safe and prone to attacks in the areas close to the forest.
“I am not talking about only boarding schools. Any school that is on the frontline areas and not safe, we would just ask the students to pack and go home, pending the time the situation normalises.”
On the FGC Birnin Yauri abduction incident, Arzika said the bandits had contacted parents and families of the students but noted that no ransom had been demanded.
He said, “They collected the contacts of parents and teachers from the abductees and thereafter made calls to tell them that their children and people were with them but none of them asked for a kobo.
“They only said they wanted to establish contact that the abductees were in their custody.”
“Right now, two of our teachers have regained their freedom. Seven schools in that area have been closed and more will be closed if we realise the situation may not be safe for the teachers and students,” he added.
