Panic Over Attacks: FG Locks Down 47 Unity Schools Nationwide

The Federal Government has ordered the immediate closure of 47 Federal Unity Colleges across the country as insecurity continues to escalate, especially in northern states.

The directive, contained in a circular dated November 21, 2025, was issued by the Federal Ministry of Education and signed by the ”irector of Senior Secondary Education, Hajiya Abdulkadir, on behalf of the Minister.

According to the circular, the shutdown became necessary following “recent security challenges” and the urgent need to prevent breaches in schools considered vulnerable.

“All principals are to ensure strict compliance,” the ministry warned, listing 41 colleges spread across the North-West, North-East, North-Central, and parts of the South.

The move marks one of the government’s most sweeping responses to rising attacks on schools in recent months.

The closure comes less than a day after armed men stormed St. Mary’s Primary and Secondary School in Papiri, Niger State, abducting an unknown number of students. Eyewitnesses said the assailants rode in on more than 60 motorcycles, shooting the school’s gatekeeper, who sustained serious injuries.

The Niger abduction is only the latest in a string of violent attacks targeting schools and communities.

Earlier in the week, bandits raided a girls’ boarding school in Maga, Kebbi State, kidnapping 26 students. In Kwara State, gunmen abducted at least 30 worshippers from a church in Eruku, killing three people and demanding ₦100 million ransom per victim.

Growing tension even triggered a false alarm on Friday in Nasarawa, where rumours of a student kidnapping spread rapidly. The state police command later dismissed the report as “false and not reflective of the true situation.”

Amid the mounting fear, the Katsina State Government also ordered the immediate closure of all public schools across the state, citing similar security concerns.

Authorities warn that the threat level remains high, especially in rural and border communities.

Responding to the worsening situation, President Bola Tinubu directed the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, to relocate to Kebbi State and oversee rescue operations. The President also postponed scheduled visits to South Africa and Angola to focus on the crisis.

The surge in school-targeted attacks has intensified calls for coordinated security action, with parents, educators, and state governments demanding stronger protection for children and teachers nationwide.