The Plateau State Government has ordered the immediate closure of all basic schools across the state amid rising security concerns.
The Public Relations Officer of the Plateau State Universal Basic Education Board (PSUBEB), Richard Jonah, confirmed the directive to The Telegraph on Friday in Jos, describing the decision as a proactive, preventive measure.
“You are aware of attacks in schools in some states. Here in Plateau, the government is being proactive because we don’t want anything like that to happen here,” Jonah said.
“So, the government decided to close the schools temporarily to allow time to put security measures in place before classes resume.”
In a statement issued on Friday, PSUBEB announced that Government Junior Model Secondary Schools will close effective Saturday, November 22, 2025, while Primary and Day Schools will shut down from Monday, November 24, 2025.
The board said the decision underscores “the urgent need for preventive action,” assuring parents and stakeholders that the closure is temporary and aimed at safeguarding learners.
Local Government Education Authorities, school heads, and community leaders were urged to cooperate with the directive and remain vigilant.
A resident of Shendam LGA, Moses Jeremiah, said that students of GSS Shendam were sent home following reports of an alleged threat.
“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.
The Telegraph has not independently verified this reported threat.
When contacted, the Plateau State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Alfred Alabo, said the command had not received any information about threats to schools.
“You are just informing me now. I cannot make any statement on the school closure until I get a proper brief,” he said.
The shutdown comes less than 24 hours after gunmen abducted several students from a Catholic school in Niger State, the second mass abduction in the North within one week.
On Monday, gunmen stormed a girls’ boarding school in neighbouring Kebbi State, kidnapping 25 students and killing the vice-principal.
Meanwhile, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has appealed for public cooperation with ongoing military operations, during the Nigerian Army Civil-Military Cooperation Media Chat held on Thursday in Jos.
