CSOs call for urgent action on 168 closed schools in Zamfara

Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) dedicated to Safe Schools in Zamfara State have raised alarms about the persistent closure of 168 schools, emphasizing the need for intensified efforts by security forces to combat the ongoing threat from bandits.

The Safe Schools’ Technical Team underscored that reopening the 168 schools hinges on security operatives taking decisive action in the red zones where banditry is rampant. Hashim Ahmed, the chairman of the team, conveyed this message during an advocacy visit to the Commissioner of Police, Muhammad Danlijam, at the Command Headquarters in Gusau, the state capital.

Ahmed highlighted the dire situation, pointing out that three public secondary schools in Zamfara State have been severely affected by bandit attacks and student abductions since 2011. Additionally, five schools have been converted into Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps.

The affected public schools include Government Girls Day Secondary School, Jangebe, in Talata Mafara Local Government Area; Government Day Secondary School Kaya in Maradun Local Government Area; and Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School, Moriki in Zurmi Local Government Area.

Due to these security challenges, the Zamfara State government initially closed all primary and secondary schools on September 11, 2021. Although some schools reopened on January 17, 2022, those located in the red zones have remained closed to date.

The Civil Society Organizations, represented by the Safe Schools Technical Team, are now urging governments at all levels to provide adequate security to schools lacking the presence of military, police, or personnel from the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC). Their goal is to safeguard students and teachers, allowing them to resume learning without fear.

In response, the State Commissioner of Police, Muhammad Danlijam, expressed the state police command’s commitment to collaborating with any relevant group to ensure comprehensive security not only in schools but throughout the state.