Niger state government has accused the management of St. Mary’s Private Catholic Secondary School, Agwara local government area, of resuming activities without authorization despite prior security directives, following the recent abduction of an unknown number of students and teachers by terrorists.
The secretary to the state government, Abubakar Usman, in a statement on Friday, said the government had received credible intelligence indicating heightened threats in the region, prompting an order for the temporary closure of all boarding schools in the area.
“We had credible security alerts and directed all boarding schools in the zone to close.
“St Mary’s school went ahead to reopen and resume activities without notifying the government or seeking clearance,” Usman said.
He confirmed that full-scale investigations and search-and-rescue operations have commenced adding that the exact number of pupils abducted remains unknown as security agencies continue their assessments.
The government urged school operators and community leaders to strictly adhere to official advisories as the protection of lives, especially those of children, remains the priority.
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