JUST-IN: Niger Reopens Schools After Rescue Of Abducted Schoolchildren

After closing all schools in the state following the abduction of pupils, students and staff of St. Mary Catholic School in Papiri, Agwara local government area of Niger State, the governor, Mohammed Umar Bago, has approved the reopening of both private and public schools across the State.

A statement by the Commissioner of Basic and Secondary Education, Dr Hadiza Asebe Mohammed, said the reopening of all the schools will take effect from January 12, 2026.

All the abductees were, however, rescued by the security agencies of weeks in captivity in December, 2025.

She said, “the decision follows a careful security assessments and extensive consultation with the relevant security agencies, in line with the governor’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding lives, while ensuring uninterrupted access to quality education for all children in Niger state.”

Dr Mohammed, however, said schools located in areas considered to be unsafe and insecure would not be reopened for now.

She said in the interim that all the schools were being assessed by the relevant security agencies to ensure their safety for reopening before the slated date.

LEADERSHIP reports that the state governor ordered the closure of all the schools in the state following the abduction of about 230 pupils, students and staff of St. Mary Catholic school Papiri on November 21, 2025, making some of the schools in the State to abandon their end of first term examination midway.

Similarly, the tertiary institutions in the State, amid the tension generated by the abduction, abandoned the semester and students were directed to leave the campus abruptly.