Federal Government Orders Immediate Closure of 41 Unity Colleges Across Northern Regions Due to Escalating Student Abduction Crisis

The Federal Government today, Friday, November 21, 2025, issued a major directive ordering the immediate and temporary closure of 41 Federal Unity Colleges (FUCs) across the country in response to the alarming resurgence of mass abductions targeting students.

The unprecedented safety measure was conveyed in a circular issued by the Federal Ministry of Education, signed by Hajia Binta Abdulkadir, the Director of Senior Secondary Education, on behalf of the Minister of Education.

“Sequel to the recent security challenges in some parts of the country and the need to prevent any security breaches, the Honourable Minister of Education has approved the immediate closure of the listed Federal Unity Colleges with immediate effect,” the circular read.

Targeting High-Risk Regions

The decision comes on the heels of two devastating mass abductions this week: the seizure of 25 schoolgirls in Maga, Kebbi State, and the kidnapping of scores of students and staff from a Catholic school in Niger State just this morning. The wave of attacks has led to profound national anxiety and forced President Bola Tinubu to postpone planned international engagements.

An examination of the list of 41 affected schools shows a concentrated effort to safeguard institutions in high-risk zones, with colleges located across the North-West, North-East, and North-Central regions. These include FGC Birnin Yauri, FGGC Zaria, FGGC Potiskum, and FGA Suleja, among many others.

Principals of the affected schools have been mandated to ensure swift and strict compliance with the directive, with the primary objective being the safe evacuation and protection of students and staff from vulnerable boarding facilities. The measure underscores the extreme gravity with which the Federal Government now views the threat posed by bandits and terrorists to the nation’s education sector.