Insecurity has forced the closure of at least 188 public schools across Northern Nigeria, with many more potentially affected. The shutdowns are primarily due to bandit attacks, mass displacement, and the occupation of school buildings by security forces or internally displaced persons (IDPs).
The affected States are:
Zamfara 39 schools closed (20 primary, 19 secondary)
Niger 30 schools closed (18 primary, 1 secondary, 11 nomadic designated schools)
Katsina 52 schools closed
Kaduna 6 schools closed, Sokoto 6 schools closed (3 secondary, 2 technical colleges, 1 primary)
Schools in Kebbi remain closed after the abduction of 96 students from Federal Government Girls College, Birnin Yauri, in 2021
In Benue 55 schools closed or destroyed in 2024, with many turned into IDP shelters
Some schools in Patigi LGA Kwara shut down due to recent attacks.
“All these schools have been shut for a long time due to the fear of bandits. Among the listed schools, only Central Primary, Ragada, and the other primary schools in Ukari have been reopened, and even in the two schools, learning has not been stable because each time there’s movement of bandits around our area, they can spend three to five weeks without attending classrooms,” A teacher told Daily Trust papers.
Surprisingly Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe that have been having Boko Haram attacks in the past 15 years were not on the list of states affected.
The prolonged closure of these schools is likely to exacerbate the region’s education crisis, contributing to increased illiteracy, poverty, and potential future instability. Experts warn that children denied access to education may turn to crime or be vulnerable to exploitation.
