The Zamfara State Government has taken a bold and controversial stance by refusing to implement a blanket shutdown of schools despite intensifying insecurity across several local government areas. The position reflects a strategic choice to protect the state’s already fragile education system while attempting to manage ongoing security threats that have plagued the region for years.
Growing Insecurity and Mounting Pressure
Zamfara has been one of Nigeria’s hardest-hit states in terms of bandit attacks, mass abductions, and school-targeted violence. In past years, dozens of schools were shut down following attacks and attempted kidnappings, leaving thousands of students stranded at home and deepening the state’s out-of-school population.
Parents, teachers, and civil society groups have repeatedly raised concerns, warning that many communities remain unsafe. They argue that reopening schools too quickly or keeping schools functional without adequate protection could expose children and educators to significant danger.
Yet, despite escalating incidents in certain districts, the government has taken a different direction.
Government’s Position: “Total Closure Is Not a Solution”
Officials in Zamfara insist that completely shutting down all schools would cause more harm than good. According to state authorities, closing the entire education sector would further devastate learning outcomes, widen educational inequality, and worsen the alarming number of out-of-school children.
Instead of a mass shutdown, the administration has adopted a risk-based strategy that classifies communities and schools into categories based on threat levels. This allows low-risk areas to remain open while high-risk zones continue under restricted operations or remain temporarily closed.
The selective approach, according to government sources, ensures that children in relatively peaceful areas are not unnecessarily deprived of schooling while efforts continue to secure more vulnerable regions.
How the Risk-Based Approach Works
The government has categorized school locations using a color-coded security structure:
Green Zones — Communities considered safe enough for schools to operate with standard protective measures.
Yellow Zones — Areas with moderate risk levels where schools function under strict supervision, enhanced security monitoring, and community watch systems.
Red Zones — Highly volatile areas where schools remain shut until security conditions improve.
This method has allowed many schools previously closed to reopen, helping restore a sense of normalcy for students and educators in more stable regions of the state.
Why Zamfara Is Avoiding a Full Shutdown
Protecting Learning Gains
A total shutdown would reverse the progress made in reopening dozens of schools that had previously been closed for years due to heightened attacks. The government argues that continuous closure could permanently weaken the education system and discourage children from returning once schools eventually reopen.
Preventing Long-Term Damage
Shutting all schools could worsen the social and economic challenges rooted in poor literacy levels, youth unemployment, and crime. Authorities believe that sustained education — even if only in safer zones — is critical to long-term stability and development.
Restoring Public Confidence
The administration wants to show resilience by keeping parts of the education sector operational. Officials argue that surrendering completely to insecurity sends the wrong message and emboldens criminal gangs.
Public Reaction: Support and Skepticism
The decision has drawn mixed reactions across Zamfara.
Supporters say the state cannot afford to let its children lose more academic years and argue that education must continue in safe zones to prevent further decline in literacy and enrollment.
Critics, however, believe the government may be underestimating the dangers and risking lives. Many parents in yellow and borderline communities remain anxious, fearing sudden attacks that could target schools with little warning.
Civil society organizations continue to caution that any reopening decisions must be driven strictly by professional security assessments rather than political optimism.
The Bigger Picture: Education Under Threat
Zamfara’s situation mirrors a broader national challenge where insecurity has forced schools in many northern states to shut down. The crisis has pushed millions of children out of classrooms and threatens Nigeria’s ability to meet global education goals.
In this context, Zamfara’s refusal to implement a blanket shutdown underscores the difficult balance between protecting students and safeguarding their right to education.
