Jigawa gov’t shuts down schools over bandit attack scare, aborting ongoing exams
Story from Dahiru SULEIMAN, Dutse
Jigawa State Government has ordered the immediate closure of all public schools in the state amidst fear of bandit attacks being rumoured across the state.
The schools were abruptly closed on Wednesday while the students were taking their terminal examinations.
The sudden closure has caused apprehension and panicking among residents and students. Many of the students were seen stranded waiting to be evacuated to their respective towns.
The spokesperson for the state Ministry of Education, Wasilu Umar, confirmed the closure of the schools to newsmen but declined further comment.
A primary school headmaster in one of the schools in Dutse, the state’s capital, said, “we are asked to shut down and release the student immediately”.
“The pupils are yet to sit for the Basic Science and Islamic Religion Knowledge (IRK) examinations before they were asked to leave.
“The closure is indefinite until further notice, we believe that it was due to the deteriorating security situation in the state, the headmaster added.
Also, one of the students in the Nuhu Sanusi Government Day Secondary School told reporters that they were asked to leave without taking the civic education examination billed to hold tomorrow.
The incident followed the attack on Immigration personnel last week Tuesday killing one officer and injuring two others in the Magari Local Government Area of the State.
The police spokesperson in Jigawa, Lawan Adam, said the police command in the state did not order the closure of the schools, and the Ministry of Education has not briefed the command as to what led to the sudden decision.
