The Kebbi State Government has announced the reopening of Government Girls’ Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, several months after 24 schoolgirls were abducted from the institution and subsequently rescued.
The Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Dr Halima Bande, disclosed this on Tuesday while briefing journalists after a security meeting with principals and heads of secondary schools in Birnin Kebbi.
Bande said the decision was taken after confidence was rebuilt among parents, students and school officials through counselling sessions and the full deployment of security personnel to the area.
“The victims have been rescued, and confidence has been restored through counselling and adequate security presence. This has now paved the way for the resumption of academic activities at Government Girls’ Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga,” she said.
The school was closed following the November abduction, which raised concerns about the safety of students in the area.
According to the commissioner, Governor Nasir Idris has directed that all necessary security measures be implemented to guarantee the safety of students and staff in schools across the state.
She said the governor also approved the organisation of security awareness programmes for principals and school personnel as part of measures to prevent a recurrence of such incidents.
Bande explained that similar security sensitisation programmes had earlier taken place in Zuru, Yauri, Jega, Bunza and Argungu, with the Birnin Kebbi meeting marking the final phase of the exercise.
Emphasising shared responsibility, the commissioner said school administrators, teachers and students all have vital roles to play in protecting school environments.
“We must not allow our collective psyche for peaceful living to be taken away by bandits,” she said.
Bande noted that the aim of the forums was to promote heightened security awareness and ensure the smooth operation of schools in a conducive learning environment.
She urged school principals to maintain cordial relationships with their host communities, describing them as key stakeholders in local security arrangements.
The commissioner also advised school administrators to sustain regular engagement with security agencies for professional guidance, stressing the importance of proactive security measures.
She commended Governor Idris for approving the deployment of security personnel to schools, noting that the move had boosted the confidence of teachers and students to carry out academic activities without fear.
Bande further praised the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Department of State Services (DSS) for educating school principals on security awareness and preventive safety strategies.
