By Ayomide Otitoju
The Kebbi State Government has announced the reopening of Government Girls’ Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, following the abduction and subsequent rescue of 24 schoolgirls last November.
The announcement was made on Tuesday by the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Dr. Halima Bande, after a security meeting with school principals and heads in Birnin Kebbi.
Dr. Bande said the resumption was possible after counseling sessions and the full deployment of security personnel, which have restored confidence among parents and students. She also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to implementing robust security measures to safeguard both students and staff.
According to Bande, Governor Nasir Idris has directed the conduct of security awareness programmes for principals and school staff to prevent a recurrence of such incidents. Similar sessions had previously been held in Zuru, Yauri, Jega, Bunza, and Argungu, with the final forum conducted in Birnin Kebbi on Tuesday.
The commissioner urged school authorities to maintain strong relationships with their host communities, describing them as key partners in school security, and stressed the importance of proactive engagement with security agencies.
She commended the deployment of security personnel to schools, which has boosted the confidence of teachers and students to pursue academic activities, and praised the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and the Department of State Services (DSS) for their contributions to security training for school principals.
During the meeting, ACP Yakubu Lawal Gumi, Assistant Commissioner of Police (Operations) in Kebbi State, warned principals against negligence, advising them to ensure proper lighting and vigilance to deter criminals. Similarly, NSCDC Deputy Commandant Wale Henry highlighted the need for proper fencing, alertness to internal threats such as cultism, and monitoring of students to prevent exposure to negative influences.
Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, retired Colonel Danladi Hassan Ribah, confirmed that Governor Idris’ directive to secure all school environments had been implemented. He said the meetings aimed to consolidate efforts toward a safe and conducive learning environment. On the matter of de-boarding some schools, Col. Ribah noted that a committee report has been submitted and the government is awaiting the governor’s final decision.
