The Kebbi State Government has ordered the reopening of Government Girls’ Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, in Danko-Wasagu Local Government Area, nearly three months after 24 female students were abducted from the school and later rescued.
The Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Dr Halima Bande, announced the decision on Tuesday while briefing journalists in Birnin Kebbi, saying improved security measures had been put in place across boarding schools in the state.
Bande said the government had restored confidence among parents, school administrators and students through enhanced security deployment, counselling and awareness programmes.
“We must not allow our collective psyche for peaceful living to be taken away by bandits. Confidence has been rebuilt through counselling and the full deployment of security personnel. The school is ready to resume normal academic activities,” she said.
She disclosed that Governor Nasir Idris directed the implementation of security awareness programmes for principals and school staff to reduce vulnerabilities in schools.
According to her, the sessions, held in Zuru, Yauri, Jega, Bunza, Argungu and Birnin Kebbi, focused on early warning systems, emergency response, community engagement and collaboration with security agencies.
“Principals, vice principals, staff and students all have vital roles to play in maintaining school security,” Bande said, describing host communities as critical stakeholders in the security architecture of schools.
Education analysts note that rural communities often serve as first responders during security threats, underscoring the importance of community-based intelligence gathering in areas where security coverage remains limited.
At the engagement sessions, security agencies emphasised preventive measures and vigilance. The Assistant Commissioner of Police (Operations), ACP Yakubu Lawal Gumi, cautioned school managers against complacency.
“You must manage your schools with security consciousness. Ensure adequate lighting, as criminals detest exposure, and remain alert to suspicious characters,” he said.
The Deputy Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Wale Henry, highlighted physical infrastructure gaps that could expose schools to attacks, stressing that proper fencing, vigilance and trained personnel at school gates are essential to security.
He also urged school authorities to monitor internal threats, including moral and behavioural issues that could compromise safety within school premises.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, Col. Danladi Ribah (retd.), said security measures ordered after the Maga incident had now been enforced across the state.
“The governor directed that boarding schools be secured and vulnerability assessments carried out. The goal is to ensure a safe and conducive learning environment,” Ribah said.
On the ongoing policy debate over de-boarding, Ribah disclosed that a committee had submitted its report, adding that the government was awaiting a final decision from Governor Idris.
The reopening of the school comes amid continuing concerns over attacks on educational institutions in northern Nigeria, where armed groups have repeatedly targeted schools for ransom.
UNICEF and education advocates have warned that prolonged school closures deepen learning gaps and undermine girl-child education, particularly in rural communities.
The attack on the Maga school in November 2025 sparked national outrage over the vulnerability of rural boarding schools in the North-West and renewed debate on the impact of banditry on education.
Following the abduction, the state government suspended activities at the school to allow for security reassessment and psychosocial counselling for affected students before approving its reopening.
