Taraba Orders Mass Shutdown of Boarding Schools as Nationwide Insecurity Spirals

In a swift and decisive response to the rapidly deteriorating security situation across the country, the Taraba State Government has ordered the immediate closure of all boarding facilities in both public and private secondary schools.

The directive, issued through an official statement signed by the Commissioner for Education, Dr. Augustina Godwin, mandates that all boarding students be sent home without delay. According to her, the action followed Governor Agbu Kefas’s instruction amid escalating threats posed by bandits increasingly targeting educational institutions.

Dr. Godwin noted that the temporary shift to day-school operations was necessary given the disturbing trend of mass abductions sweeping through Northern Nigeria. She stressed that the government “cannot stand idle while terrorists continue to profile and invade vulnerable boarding facilities.”

The order comes on the heels of yet another horrifying attack—this time at St. Mary’s Papiri Private Catholic Secondary School in Niger State—where armed terrorists stormed the premises between 2am and 3am, abducting over 200 students and several teachers. Community members who visited the site described the attack as a highly coordinated assault.

Similar incidents in Kebbi, Kaduna, Zamfara, and other Northern states have reinforced fears that schoolchildren have once again become soft targets in the escalating wave of insecurity.

Taraba Moves to Prevent Tragedy Before It Strikes

According to the directive, principals and proprietors of private schools must “immediately arrange for the deboarding of all students.” Dr. Godwin emphasised that the decision was purely precautionary, aimed at protecting lives before tragedy occurs.

> “This step is intended to safeguard our children and reduce the risks associated with the growing unrest,” the Education Commissioner stated.

Parents, guardians, and school authorities have been urged to fully comply, while the government promised tighter collaboration with security agencies to restore stability.

Uncertain Timeline, Unwavering Priority

Although the government did not disclose when the boarding system will resume, it reaffirmed that the safety of students remains the number one priority.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government also announced the shutdown of 41 Unity Colleges nationwide following the rise in coordinated attacks and targeted abductions of schoolchildren across Northern Nigeria—further underscoring the gravity of the national security emergency.