The Kebbi State Governor, Nasir Idris has stated that the schools closed in communities affected by banditry will remain shut until security improves.
Governor Idris stated this in a statement issued on Thursday by his Special Adviser on Communication and Strategy, Abdullahi Idris, stating that the decision, taken about seven months ago, was based solely on security considerations and would not be reversed until the safety of students and teachers can be guaranteed.
The statement noted that the government has intensified efforts to tackle insecurity by providing the needed logistics to strengthen the presence of military personnel and mobile police officers deployed to the area.
“The affected schools will remain closed until the security situation permits their safe reopening. We will not compromise the lives of our students and teachers under any circumstances,” the statement said.
While warning against politicising security issues, the government maintained that protection of people’s lives and property remained its foremost responsibility, stressing that schools would only be reopened when the security situation permits.
“The safety of our children cannot be subjected to politics or blackmail. No amount of falsehood or pressure will make this administration compromise on the lives of innocent students,” the statement added.
It noted that Kebbi was not the only state facing such challenges, adding that schools in Borno and several other northern states had experienced prolonged closures due to insecurity.
The government added that the governor had also engaged security chiefs, traditional rulers, academics, religious leaders and other governors in consultations aimed at finding lasting solutions to the crisis.
It further said northern governors and traditional rulers recently met in Kaduna and resolved to establish a Joint Security Fund, which will be coordinated by the former Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Martins Agwai (retd.), alongside former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Yayale Ahmed, with each participating state expected to contribute ₦1 billion monthly.
The government however appealed to parents, community leaders and residents to continue supporting security operations and ongoing efforts to restore peace into the areas.
