Schools in 5 regions of north-central Nigerian state closed indefinitely over security concerns

By Kabir Adeniyi

LAGOS, Nigeria (AA) - Hundreds of schools in the north-central Nigerian state were closed indefinitely on Thursday due to security concerns, just days after unknown armed men attacked a church, killing three members and kidnapping 30 others.

The education department has directed schools in the Ifelodun, Ekiti, Irepodun, Isin, and Oke Ero local government areas in Kwara State to close immediately and protect children as a precautionary measure against armed groups that may seek cover from ongoing security operations.

Earlier on Monday, gunmen killed three members of the Christ Apostolic Church in Eruku, Ekiti local government area, and kidnapped 30 others, whose whereabouts remain unknown.

Education and Human Capital Development Commissioner Lawal Olohungbebe said in a statement that the directive has been issued as authorities intensified efforts to protect schoolchildren from armed groups seeking cover from ongoing security operations.

"These measures are necessary to secure our schools and prevent criminals from exploiting pupils as shields," he said.

Nigeria has faced security challenges for over a decade, beginning with the Boko Haram terror group's abduction of 270 schoolgirls of the Government Girls Secondary School in the town of Chibok in Borno State in 2014.

Since then, over 500 students have been kidnapped, with armed groups exploiting Nigeria's poorly policed areas to extract lucrative ransoms.

The Nigerian government has pledged to step up operations against kidnappers, but insecurity persists, leaving schools vulnerable.

Earlier on Monday, unknown gunmen kidnapped 25 schoolgirls from a school in Nigeria's northwestern Kebbi State, while a vice principal and a security guard were shot and killed for resisting.

President Tinubu has directed security agencies to act swiftly and recover the kidnapped schoolgirls from Kebbi State.

He also urged communities across the country to share information and intelligence so that the military, police, and security forces can keep their communities safe.