Parents scramble to withdraw children from school, as FG closes Unity College in FCT over feared bandits’ attack
Federal Government, through the Ministry of Education, has ordered the immediate closure of the Government College Kwali, in the Kwali Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu who gave the directive, Monday morning, explained that the closure ‘became necessary following security breach on Sheda and Lambata Villages, suburbs of Kwali Area Council which also threatened FGC Kwali.’
According to the Minister, ‘the timely intervention of security agencies saved the situation.’
A statement ordering the school’s closure signed by the Director Press and Public Relations, Ben. Bem Goong , said the minister has ‘directed that arrangements should be made for final year students to conclude their NECO examinations.’
“The Minister has also directed Principals of Unity Colleges across the country to liaise with security Agencies within their jurisdictions in order to forestall any security breach in our schools,” read the statement, issued, Monday.
Meanwhile, a scramble has ensued at the Federal Government College Kwali, as parents and guardians of students have rushed to the institution to evacuate their children and wards, as early as early Sunday afternoon.
A village located close to the school was reportedly attacked by bandits last Saturday night as the terrorists’ gunshots were heard right from inside the school premises, where only a perimeter fence separated it from the Sheda village.
An SS II student of the college, Rebbeca Samuel, disclosed that some bandits attacked Sheda village on Saturday night, a situation which she said caused panic among students and teachers of the school.
“It was at about 12am on Saturday while we were sleeping inside the hostel that we suddenly heard gunshots which made the school management ask us to vacate the hostel.”
An official of the college, who is also a member of the Parents Teachers Association (PTA), said the management directed parents as early as Sunday afternoon to immediately evacuate their children following the bandits’ attack on Sheda village.
“You know it is a fence that separates Sheda village from the school, and the attack by bandits on the village amid sporadic gunshots that Saturday, caused serious panic to both students and management,” he said.
Some parents also disclosed that they received calls and SMS messages from the school for them to come and evacuate their children from the institution’s premises.
The Kwali-based Unity College is located at Sheda village, on the ever-busy Abuja-Lokoja highway.
Secondary schools and colleges have become a favourite targets for terrorists in he northern regions as they stand to rake in millions of naira in ransom payments by parents and governments alike.
