Yobe shuts boarding schools over fears of Boko Haram attacks
By Tada Jutha, Damaturu
The Yobe State Government has ordered the shutdown of boarding schools over Boko Haram attacks and fears of students.
The various school authorities asked students to vacate their hostels until they receive further directives from their principals.
The schools’ shutdown order did not affect students of SS3.
The Guardian learnt yesterday (Sunday) that Government Girls College, Damaturu students were seen moving out of the school premises to their respective parents and guardians.
The College, before shutdown order, is currently hosting Government Girls College, Buni Gari, which was relocated to Damaturu, the state capital because of terrorism in the state.
Some of the students, were also sighted at the premises of the College, while their parents had already arrived to take them to their homes safely.
The school was heavily guarded by security operatives last week with a military armored personnel carrier (APC) stationed at the entrance of the school last night.
The State’s Ministry of Education did not respond to enquiries made on the closing of boarding schools
Some teachers who spoke on the condition anonymity lamented that there could be security threats to schools.
His words: “We only gathered that we should ask the students to go home because of security concerns.
“I am sure it’s not unconnected to the recent abductions in Niger and Zamfara states.”
It could be recalled that many students were killed in boarding schools across the state during the over a decade insurgency. It also led to the relocation of many schools to Damaturu, the state capital.
The insurgents killed 29 students In Buni Yadi, 11 in Damaturu and several others in Mamudo.
The insurgents also infamously stormed Dapchi in February 2018 and abducted over a hundred schoolgirls.