BY MUSA IDRIS UMAR, NOVEMBER 21, 2025 | 10:06 PM
The Federal Government of Nigeria has ordered the temporary shutdown of 47 Unity Colleges across the country.
The directive follows recent attacks on schools in Kebbi and Niger States.
Students and staff were abducted in both incidents, and at least one school official was killed.
In a circular issued to principals on Friday, Hajia Binta Abdulkadir, director of senior secondary education in the Ministry of Education, said Minister Dr. Tunji Alausa approved the closure due to rising security concerns on Friday.
‘Sequel to the recent security challenges in some parts of the country and the need to prevent any security breaches, the minister of education has approved the immediate closure of the listed federal unity colleges with immediate effect,’ the circular stated.
The shutdown affects schools in locations such as Zaria, Daura, Sokoto, Potiskum, Ikare-Akoko, and Abaji.
The move comes amid a growing wave of attacks on educational institutions nationwide.
In Kebbi State, gunmen invaded the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga, abducting 25 students during an early-morning attack.
The vice principal, Malam Hassan Makaku, was killed while attempting to resist the attackers.
A report covering 2014 to 2022 shows that more than 1,680 children were abducted from schools across Nigeria.