In a move reflecting growing safety concerns, parents swarmed the Federal Government Girls’ College (FGGC), Bwari, Abuja, on Saturday, November 22nd, to pick their children after the Federal Government ordered the closure of 47 Unity Colleges nationwide due to rising threats of student abductions.
Many families arrived early in the morning, some hurrying with suitcases and bags along the sidewalks, while security officers kept watch over the exodus. The closure, announced in a circular signed by Binta Abdulkadir, Director of Senior Secondary Education at the Federal Ministry of Education, instructed college principals to comply with the “precautionary measure” to prevent security breaches.
Ali Ibrahim, the acting Public Relations Officer of FGGC Bwari, stated, “The school is closing temporarily as part of a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of students and staff in light of recent security challenges.”
FGGC Bwari is one of the 47 Unity Colleges affected. The closure comes after alarming incidents in the north-west and north-central regions. In just one week, two large-scale abductions stunned the nation: On November 17th, gunmen attacked Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga, Kebbi State, abducting about 25 students and killing the vice-principal. Only days later, armed men struck St. Mary’s School, a Catholic institution in the Papiri community of Agwara LGA, Niger State, where 315 people — including 303 students and 12 teachers — were abducted.
A parent who wished to remain anonymous told TheCable, “We are grateful for the government’s decision; our children’s safety is our top concern. But we urge them to tackle insecurity swiftly so schools can reopen without fear.”
The Federal Ministry of Education’s swift action signals an acknowledgment of its current inability to guarantee safety in vulnerable learning environments. While parents praised the closure as necessary, many expressed deep worry about the future of education if abductions persist. As schools close, families hope authorities will intensify efforts to secure educational institutions and restore normalcy across affected states .
