Insecurity: Many students stranded, as Jigawa orders closure of Schools

***Parents panic over wards’ safety

By Ahmed Rufa’i, Dutse

The Jigawa state governor Badaru Abubakar has ordered the immediate closure of all public schools in the state.
The development has left many boarding students stranded as parents are worried over safety of their wards.
The order at a late hour of Tuesday came towards the end of the promotional examinations.

It was gathered that an electronic massage was sent to all principals and headmasters in the state through the ministry of education and state primary education board.
When contacted the commissioner of police, Mr Sale Tafida through the command’s spokesperson, DSP Lawal Shisu said “We did not suggest closure of schools. In fact no body contacted us in that regard”.
Also contacted the state’s commissioner of Education, Science and Technology, Mr Lawan Yunusa Danzomo confirmed that the schools have been closed.
Danzomo continued saying, “Yes of course, we closed schools based on intelligent reports of possible attacks on schools”.

According to him “You all know the security situation is not peculiar to Jigawa alone but so many parts of the country.
He said the threats this time around are targeting boarder states of which Jigawa is one

The commissioner pointed out that, “We ordered the tertiary institutions to close but we asked them to study the situation and decided on their own”.

On the ongoing examination, Danzomo maintained that “that is not something to worry about as they are internal examination which can be rescheduled.”
When our correspondent went round some parts of the State he observed that all the schools were under lock and key as many students were also found to be stranded due to the impromptu order for closure of the schools.
Speaking on the development Malam Imurana Malami Ibrahim who is a chairman of Parents Teachers Association (PTA) in one of the schools expressed dismay over the state government’s action.
He accused the government of exposing their children and wards to more danger they they wanted to prevent.
He said “I’m disappointed in the government, how can you abruptly and in hours order the closure of schools and also sending the children out with out any proper arrangement on how the children will reach home safely”.

According to him “We are all confused, we don’t know where to start. especially the girls who are more vulnerable based on their natural weakness.”