Authorities in Nigeria’s Niger State have announced that schools will begin reopening later this month following a mass abduction in November that led to their closure under emergency security measures.
The state’s education ministry said that from 12 January, both public and private schools located in areas considered safe and secure will be allowed to resume academic activities. The decision was taken after security assessments and extensive consultations with relevant security agencies.
Schools across the state were shut down after more than 250 students and staff were abducted from St Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, in western Nigeria, in what was one of the worst school kidnappings in the country’s history. Officials later confirmed that all those taken were rescued shortly before Christmas, though authorities have not disclosed how their release was secured or whether ransom payments were involved.
Nigeria has for years battled armed criminal gangs, commonly referred to as bandits, who carry out kidnappings, killings and raids across several regions. While such attacks were previously more common in the north-east, incidents in the western and central parts of the country have increased sharply in recent times. Schools and places of worship have become frequent targets.
The federal government has since classified many of these criminal groups as terrorist organisations. Although paying ransom is illegal under Nigerian law, there are widespread claims that the rule is often ignored in practice.
Since 2014, more than 1,500 children have been abducted from schools in Nigeria, beginning with the high-profile kidnapping of 276 schoolgirls from Chibok, an incident that drew international outrage.
The Niger State education ministry said it would soon publish a list of schools approved to reopen, noting that institutions located in areas deemed unsafe would remain closed until further security reviews are completed.
For schools resuming classes, authorities have ordered that all students be registered immediately, with their details submitted to the education ministry within one week. Local officials have also been instructed to ensure there is adequate security presence in and around school premises to prevent future attacks.
However, concerns remain after fresh violence erupted in the state just a day after the reopening announcement. Gunmen attacked the town of Kasuwan-Daji, killing at least 30 people and kidnapping several others, according to police.
The attackers reportedly emerged from nearby forest areas, set the local market on fire and looted shops. Abdullahi Rofia of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency said residents were rounded up, tied and attacked with knives.
He said fear has gripped the community, with many residents going into hiding. “They are too afraid to talk to anybody,” he said, adding that people feared reprisals if they spoke out.