The Kebbi State Government has approved the reopening of Government Girls’ Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, months after 24 students were abducted from the institution and later rescued.
The announcement was made by the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Dr. Halima Bande, following a security meeting with school principals and heads of institutions held in Birnin Kebbi on Tuesday.
The school was shut after the abduction incident in November 2025, but Bande said the situation had since stabilised, allowing academic activities to resume.
According to her, renewed confidence has been restored among parents, teachers and students through counselling programmes and the deployment of security personnel to the school.
She added that the state government is committed to implementing comprehensive security measures to ensure the safety of both students and staff across all public schools.
Bande disclosed that Governor Nasir Idris had ordered the organisation of security awareness programmes for principals and school personnel as part of efforts to prevent a recurrence of similar incidents.
She explained that such programmes had already been conducted in Zuru, Yauri, Jega, Bunza and Argungu, with the final session held in Birnin Kebbi on Tuesday.
Emphasising collective responsibility, the commissioner said school administrators, staff and students must work together to maintain a secure learning environment.
“We must not allow our collective psyche for peaceful living to be taken away by bandits,” she said.
She noted that the engagements were designed to strengthen security awareness and ensure the smooth operation of schools in a safe and conducive atmosphere.
Bande also urged school authorities to foster strong relationships with their host communities, describing them as key partners in maintaining security.
She further advised principals to maintain regular communication with security agencies for professional support and proactive security guidance.
The commissioner commended Governor Idris for approving the deployment of security operatives to schools, saying the move had boosted the morale and confidence of teachers and students.
She also praised the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, and the Department of State Services, DSS, for sensitising school heads on security awareness and preventive safety strategies.
At the meeting, the Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations, Kebbi State Command, ACP Yakubu Lawal Gumi, warned principals against laxity that could expose schools to criminal infiltration.
Similarly, the Deputy Commandant of the NSCDC, Wale Henry, expressed concern over inadequate fencing in some schools and stressed the need to strengthen physical security structures.
He also cautioned school administrators to remain vigilant against internal threats such as cultism and other behavioural challenges, calling for strict monitoring to protect students from harmful influences.
In his remarks, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, retired Colonel Danladi Hassan Ribah, confirmed that the directive by Governor Nasir Idris to secure school environments across the state had been implemented.
He added that the security meetings with school heads were intended to reinforce coordinated efforts toward ensuring safe and conducive learning spaces.
On the de-boarding of some boarding schools, Ribah disclosed that a committee had submitted its findings and that the state government was awaiting the governor’s final decision.
Comments