A gang of terrorists has set five primary schools ablaze in Niger state in one month, forcing the children out of school, disrupting educational activities and further worsening the insecurity condition in the area.
Educationists in the state relayed that the schools were put in fire after six were been shut down by the attackers, bemoaning the incessant attacks in the state which have displaced residents, destroyed livelihoods and worsened humanitarian conditions.
Principal of Government Day Secondary School, Dekara Salihu, said that the incident which happened during the month of June in the Dekara District of the Borgu Local Government Area has seen community leaders and education stakeholders who disclose that the thousands of children are being denied access to education as violence continues to disrupt daily life.
Salihu, on Monday, during a press conference organised by the Borgu Kingdom Youth Development Association, mentioned that residents in Konkoso, Kasuwan Daji, Pissa, Gangale, Woro, Tungan Makeri, Old Gangale, Boiya, Bakinba and Wawa, which have been majorly just in the happenings have called for urgent government intervention to halt the destruction and restore security in affected communities.
According to him, the attacks are part of a long-running assault on the district that has severely affected educational activities.
He explained that the hostility toward formal education dates back several years, recalling that attackers invaded the community in 2021, abducted the district head and warned residents against Western education.
Salihu uttered that the Government Day Secondary School in the district has remained shut since that incident, leaving students without access to secondary education.
“Insecurity has has crippled farming activities, the main source of livelihood for residents,” he said.
“We are farmers and can take care of ourselves if we have access to our farmlands. What we need most is security so that people can return to their communities and resume normal life,” the youth keeper uttered.
Furthermore, he expressed concern that several communities had been abandoned due to persistent attacks, warning that normal civic activities had become increasingly difficult in many affected areas.
Also speaking, the President of the Borgu Kingdom Youth Development Association, Abdullahi Sadauki, described the situation as a humanitarian emergency requiring immediate action from both the federal and state governments.
According to him, more than seven communities and villages have been destroyed during repeated attacks across the Borgu Local Government Area.
“Families have been displaced, farmlands abandoned, livestock stolen, and businesses ruined.
“Children are losing access to education, while healthcare services in many communities have collapsed,” he said.
He further disclosed that schools outside New Bussa have remained closed since January 2026 because of insecurity, leaving many pupils without classrooms and disrupting academic activities across the area.
Moreover, Sadauki said the destruction of a key bridge linking New Bussa with several neighbouring communities has worsened transportation challenges and hindered emergency response efforts.
He called for the establishment of additional Forward Operating Bases in vulnerable locations, improved intelligence gathering, stronger support for local vigilante groups and urgent humanitarian assistance for displaced residents.
The youth leader also appealed for the rescue of people still being held captive by terrorists, stressing that communities in Borgu deserve adequate protection and security.