Banditry: Ministry Shuts Abuja Unity Schools, Vacuates students

The Federal Ministry of Education, has directed the immediate closure of all unity schools domiciled in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, while ordering immediate evacuation of students over concerns of impending bandits and terrorists’ attacks,

The decision was as a result of rising insecurity and threat to the lives, properties and well-being of the students therein.

While some schools had directed students to vacate latest on Wednesday, July 27, 2022, other schools disseminated messages to parents on Sunday asking them not to fail to come pick their children on Monday, unfailingly, due to rising fear and anxiety emanating from reported threats.

An unconfirmed report had trended on social media on Sunday, indicating that there were heavy shootings at Federal Government College in Kwali, Abuja, a report which prompted parents to rush down to the school to ascertain the safety of their wards and possibly return home with them until calm was restored.

Some members of staff at the Federal Government Girls’ College, Bwari, also confided in our correspondent that they received a directive from the Federal Ministry of Education to allow students vacate the school before Wednesday.

Members of staff also told news correspondent, in confidence, that the school would be shut down today not minding the Wednesday deadline as parents had been asked to come pick up their children before noon on Monday.

Efforts to reach the authorities for reactions to the incident have been futile; however, some parents, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, claimed that a message came from the school authorities informing parents to come pick up their children not later than Monday noon.

Although sources within the Federal Ministry of Education confirmed to news correspondent that the schools were directed to be closed due to security threats and  concerns over impending bandits and terrorists’ attacks.