Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, has defended the government’s decision to shut down all schools across the state—covering primary, secondary, and tertiary institutions—saying the move was based strictly on warnings from security agencies.

Speaking on Wednesday in Bauchi ahead of the State Executive Council meeting, the governor said intelligence reports suggested a looming threat of school invasions and mass abductions similar to attacks recorded in other parts of the country.

“Yes, we closed our schools because the security agencies advised us to do so,” Mohammed explained. “They have more information than us, and even though I am the Chief Security Officer, I don’t have the personnel to act alone. They warned of possible abductions of our students, similar to incidents that have occurred in other states.”

He stressed that the decision was not meant to create panic but to prevent a potential tragedy. The governor added that the government was taking immediate steps to reinforce school security, especially in rural or hard-to-reach areas considered more vulnerable.

“We have closed the schools, and we will ensure that such schools are fenced, possibly before the end of this year,” he said.

Mohammed announced that all schools would be equipped with perimeter fencing, lighting, and other safety measures, while the recruitment of vigilantes would run concurrently with the implementation of the Safe School Programme under the Office of the National Security Adviser. He pledged full compliance with the national framework to guarantee safer learning environments in the state.

Addressing reports about the killing of five police officers in Darazo Local Government Area, the governor clarified that the incident was not linked to banditry, contrary to early media accounts.

“We had an incident in Darazo. While some reported it as banditry, it is actually a community issue. We are on the ground and will handle it with the police and DSS,” he said.

The developments come amid rising nationwide concerns over school safety and a growing trend of state governments shutting down educational institutions in response to intelligence alerts and escalating insecurity.