The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has ordered all public senior secondary schools in Abuja to shut down on or before Friday, November 28, citing urgent security concerns.
In a memo issued on Tuesday by Aishatu Sani Alhassan, Director of School Services at the FCT Secondary Education Board, and seen by TheCable, principals and heads of schools were directed to immediately conclude academic activities and ensure students are released “in an orderly and safe manner.”
The memo, titled “Urgent Need for Early Closure of Schools Due to Security Concerns,” instructed schools to notify students, staff, and parents; adjust all academic schedules; and prepare to resume on the next official school day unless new directives are issued.
School authorities were urged to treat the notice as “important and urgent.”
The development comes amid rising attacks on schools in parts of the country. On November 12, the federal government ordered the shutdown of all unity schools nationwide following attacks in Kebbi and Niger states.
On the same day, 25 female students were abducted by bandits from Government Girls Secondary School, Maga, in Kebbi State. According to the BBC, two of the girls later escaped, with officials confirming that they fled while being marched into the bush and managed to cross nearby farmlands to safety.
Similarly, on November 21, the Niger State Government announced that bandits had abducted several students and staff of St. Mary’s School in Papiri, Agwara LGA. The Catholic Diocese of Kontagora reported that 315 people — 303 students and 12 teachers — were taken from the school.
