The Plateau State Government has ordered the immediate closure of all basic schools across the state.
The state government cited escalating security concerns and the need for urgent preventive measures.
The directive was confirmed on Friday by the Public Relations Officer of the Plateau State Universal Basic Education Board (PSUBEB), Richard Jonah, in an interview with PUNCH Online.
Jonah said the decision followed recent attacks on schools in neighbouring states, adding that the government was acting proactively to avert a similar tragedy in Plateau.
“You are aware of attacks in schools in some states. So, here in Plateau, the government is being proactive because we don’t want anything like such to happen here.
“The government decided to close the schools as a temporary measure to enable it to work on some security measures that can be put in place before school sessions can continue,” he said.
According to a circular issued by PSUBEB, different categories of schools are to shut down on staggered dates:
Government Junior Model Secondary Schools — close Saturday, November 22, 2025
Primary and Day Schools — close Monday, November 24, 2025
The board explained that the swift action was necessary “to forestall potential threats,” assuring parents and guardians that the closure was temporary.
The statement urged Local Government Education Authorities, school heads and community leaders to cooperate with the directive and maintain heightened vigilance.
In Shendam LGA, a resident, Moses Jeremiah, told PUNCH that students of GSS Shendam were abruptly sent home following an alleged threat letter.
“I have one student from GSS Shendam. He has just returned home. They were asked to go home because Boko Haram wrote to inform them they were coming on Sunday,” he claimed.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer in Plateau State, SP Alfred Alabo, said the command had not received any report of a threat to schools.
“You are just informing me now. I cannot make any statement on the school closure until I get a proper brief on that,” he said.
The closure follows a spate of school attacks in the North-Central region:
On Monday, gunmen abducted 25 students from a girls’ secondary school in Kebbi State, killing the vice-principal.
Less than 24 hours later, terrorists stormed a Catholic school in Niger State, abducting several pupils and staff.
Later in the afternoon, news emerged that heavily armed gunmen allegedly stormed a Christian School in Nassarawa State and abducted an unspecified number of pupils.
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