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From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
Parents and guardians, on Saturday, besieged the 41 Federal Unity Colleges (FUCs) otherwise known as Federal Government Colleges (FGCs) to pick up their children following the recent rise in terror attacks targeting children in boarding schools.
A circular on Friday night signed by Hajia Binta Abdulkadir, the Director, Senior Secondary Education, Federal Ministry of Education stated that the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, had directed that principals of the affected schools should shut down the schools with immediate effect and students withdrawn immediately.
Parents told our correspondent that they were contacted to pick their children from the federal government colleges.
A parent at FGGC, Bwari, Abuja, who identified herself as Kemi described the situation as unfortunate.
“I have been worried since the news of abduction of school children happened in Kebbi and Niger states a few days ago.
“So, when my husband got a notification yesterday (Friday) to come pick up our daughter who is in SS1, I wasted no time to rush to the school this morning (Saturday). They said the reason for this sudden closure of school was insecurity.
Sunday Sun also confirmed that parents and guardians also besieged the FGC Rubochi, Abuja, to pick up their children in response to the directive by the Federal Government.
A parent, Ifeoma Okoh, said the parents were also notified about the development on Friday, and were asked to come to pick up their children on Saturday.
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“It was a chaotic environment at the school on Saturday morning. Parents and guardians were rushing in and out to pick their children.
“It has a become a thing of shame for Nigeria. But it’s better for the children to stay at home in the care of their parents than to be in an unsafe school environment,” she said.
Sunday Sun also confirmed that many of the affected Unity Schools across the country have been shut down as of Saturday. At Federal Technical College (FTC), Kafanchan, Kaduna State, a parent confirmed that she was also notified and asked to come to the school to pick her child, which she did on Saturday morning.
“There was palpable panic on Saturday morning as parents besieged the school as early as they could to pick up their children. We don’t want the Chibok or Dapchi school children horrible experience. It’s better the children are with their parents than the parents are living in fear.”
In Kaduna State, St. Joseph Seminary, Bassawa, Zaria, also announced a temporary closure of the school directing parents to pick up their children on Saturday, unfailingly.
Meanwhile, the Federal Ministry of Education, in a press statement on Saturday, clarified that the directive was not binding on all schools in Nigeria as being circulated in some social media report.
Folasade Boriowo, Director, Press and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Education, in the statement informed the public that a message currently circulating on social media platforms, alleging that schools nationwide have been directed to close from 24th November 2025, is false, misleading, and did not originate from the Federal Government, the Federal Ministry of Education, any State Ministry of Education or any recognised security agency.
She advised that any announcement, advisory, or notice coming from unofficial or unverified sources should be ignored and not shared, urging members of the public to always verify the authenticity of information before circulating it in order to curb the spread of misinformation.
