November 21, (THEWILL) — The Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF) has raised the alarm over escalating attacks on schools in the region, warning that the trend poses a serious threat to the future of education in northern Nigeria.
THEWILL had reported that gunmen on Friday morning attacked St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools in Papiri community, Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State, abducting an unconfirmed number of pupils, students, and staff.
The incident comes just days after the abduction of 25 girls from a boarding school in Kebbi State by bandits.
Reacting in a statement issued on Friday in Gombe by his media aide, Ismaila Uba-Misilli, the Chairman of the Forum and Governor of Gombe State, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, called for an urgent, coordinated, and decisive rescue operation to ensure the safe return of the abducted victims.
Yahaya described the attack as disturbing and unacceptable, stressing that schools must remain safe spaces for learning, not targets for criminal activity.
He emphasised that northern Nigeria cannot afford further setbacks in efforts to reduce the number of out-of-school children and reintegrate them into classrooms.
“As a Forum, we have consistently maintained that schools must remain sanctuaries of learning and growth, not theatres of fear, violence, or terror.
“Northern Nigeria already faces significant challenges and educational setbacks, and we cannot allow criminal elements to derail our collective efforts at returning out-of-school children back into the classroom,” Yahaya said.
The governor noted the Forum’s deep concern over the increasing frequency of attacks on educational institutions, particularly at a time when states across the region are investing heavily in creating safe, conducive, and resilient learning environments.
He assured that the NSGF will continue collaborating with security agencies and key stakeholders to strengthen intelligence gathering, enhance community vigilance, and reinforce school protection.
On behalf of the Forum, Yahaya extended heartfelt sympathy to the parents of the abducted pupils, the school management, and the Niger State Government, describing the ordeal as heartbreaking and deeply troubling.
He commended the ongoing search-and-rescue operations and urged security agencies to intensify efforts with utmost urgency, while appealing to residents to remain calm and provide any information that could aid in the safe recovery of the victims.
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