Banditry: Niger pupils forced into menial jobs as parents beg gov’t to reopen schools

Parents whose children have been out of school for the past three years in security-affected communities of Rafi, Shiroro and Munya LGAs of Niger State have expressed concern over the future of their children if schools, especially primary schools, remain under lock. Recall that many primary schools were forced to close and have remained closed […]

Parents whose children have been out of school for the past three years in security-affected communities of Rafi, Shiroro and Munya LGAs of Niger State have expressed concern over the future of their children if schools, especially primary schools, remain under lock.

Recall that many primary schools were forced to close and have remained closed since 2021 leading to the dropping out of many children from schools.

In September 2023, the Niger State Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs, Ahmad Suleiman Yumu, said 11,113 school-aged children were out of school in the state in the last eight years, with over 400 primary and secondary schools estimated to have been closed, including the designated nomadic schools.

Findings by Daily Trust revealed that many of the out-of-school children from these security-affected communities in the state were engaged in child labour in mining sites, while some were engaged in street hawking as well as begging to survive.

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However, the reopening of some primary schools in security-affected communities in Munya and Rafi LGAs of the state for academic activities as schools resumed for the second term following the improvement in security in the communities was a thing of joy to parents.

Some parents who spoke with Daily Trust in Rafi, Munya and Shiroro LGAs said they were ready to send their wards back to school if the government would guarantee their absolute security.

In Munya Local Government, Daily Trust gathered that about 12 primary and Junior Secondary Schools that had been under lock and key have now reopened.

One of the parents in Rafi LGA, Abdullahi Usman, said security situation had improved and some schools have been reopened for children to resume classes.

“Some schools have reopened, while in some areas within Rafi LGA and border communities with Shiroro LGA, some have not been reopened. In areas like Kukoki, Madaka, and Hana-Wanka, children have not started going back to school. While some children are out of school completely, some are attending school in Kagara,” he said. 

He further said: “Some parents have taken their children to other towns and enrolled them in private schools, while others are still waiting for the government to reopen public schools for their children.”

Usman said parents who have no means of enrolling their wards in private schools are eager to see public schools reopen to enable their children to resume learning.

Meanwhile, the Chief of Staff to the Chairman, Munya Local Government, Garba Shehu Gago, confirmed to Daily Trust that so far, schools that have been reopened include Central Primary School, Kuchi: Central Primary School, Zazzaga; Sabon Kabula Primary School; and Maraban Dandaudu Primary School.

Others are Dangunu Primary, Junior Secondary School, Sarkin Pawa, Dnawi Primary School, Central Primary School, Fuka; Kurgbaku Primary School, Central Primary School, Guni; Shangu Primary School; and Central Primary School Chibani.

Daily Trust recalled how bandits laid siege on Zazzaga, Chibani, and Kuchi in particular, disrupting farming and educational activities in the area between 2021 and 2022.

Thousands of people were displaced, and hundreds of schoolchildren were forced to drop out as government shut schools for the safety of the children.

But while some of the schools are reopening, Daily Trust observed that there are no formal security arrangements on the ground to forestall unforeseen occurrences.

But in Munya for instance, the Chief of Staff to the Chairman, Garba Shehu Gago, said all the bandits’ routes to the affected communities have been blocked to stop them from moving to attack the people.

According to him, “A lot of efforts have been made. So, now security challenges have subsided. Schools that have been closed are now reopened. In fact, distribution of learning materials procured by the local government to all the affected schools is ongoing to encourage parents and pupils.”

On security arrangements, he said, “Bandits don’t live in those communities. They come from other places to attack and go back. Now, the state and federal governments have provided enough security to block the routes bandits follow to enter Niger State up to our local government.

“For the past three to four months now, we have not witnessed any attack in Munya LGA. It is the reason why we have full confidence to open some of our schools that had been forced to shut.

However, in Shiroro LGA, the Secretary, Coalition of Shiroro Associations (COSA), Saidu Salihu, said there are still out-of-school children in the LGA, especially in the Erena axis including Galkogo and Chukuba.