The Kebbi State Government has ordered the immediate closure of all public and private secondary schools across the state following heightened security threats, marking one of the most sweeping shutdowns of the education sector in recent years.

The directive also affects all state-owned tertiary institutions, with the exception of the College of Nursing Sciences, Birnin Kebbi.

The announcement was contained in a joint statement issued in Birnin Kebbi by the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Dr. Halima Bande, and the Commissioner for Higher Education, Alhaji Issa Abubakar-Tunga.

Dr. Bande said the decision was taken to safeguard students and staff amid “the recent disturbing cases of attacks in parts of the state.

The shutdown affects hundreds of secondary schools, including government day schools, boarding schools, and privately owned institutions across all 21 local government areas.

Many parents had already expressed anxiety following recent attacks on communities and the abduction of schoolgirls in Maga.

The tertiary institutions listed for closure include Kebbi State Polytechnic, Dakingari; Abdullahi Fodio University of Science and Technology, Aliero; College of Health Sciences and Technology, Jega; Adamu Augie College of Education, Argungu; and the School of Remedial Studies, Yauri.

The commissioners clarified that only the College of Nursing Sciences and Midwifery, Birnin Kebbi, will remain open.

They urged school authorities and the public to remain calm and cooperate with government directives while security agencies intensify operations across the state.

The statement was signed by Ahmed Idris, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor.

Dr Jibril Lawal Tafida, a Special Adviser to the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has washed his hands off a damaging document against his principal, which was purportedly written by him.

The document, in the form of a letter addressed to the Office of the President, The Presidency, Aso Villa Abuja, dated November 22, 2025, chronicled alleged corruption in the National Assembly and the story of his abandonment by the Senate President when he lost his mother.

The document is making the rounds on social media.

In a four-paragraph notice dated 22nd November, 2025 entitled: “DISCLAIMER ON A FABRICATED DOCUMENT CIRCULATING IN MY NAME”, Dr Jibril Tafida stated that he did not write, author, endorse or authorise the said document in any form.

Tafida said that the unsigned letter was a deliberate attempt to weaponise his name in order to malign the leadership of the Senate and create disaffection where none existed.

He urged the public, media organisations, political actors, and digital distributors, and online publishers to disregard, delete, retract, and desist from circulating it.

The disclaimer reads in extenso: “My attention has been drawn to a lengthy text currently circulating in the media and online platforms, attributed to me and purporting to contain allegations against the President of the Senate, His Excellency, Distinguished Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio, GCON. I state unequivocally and without ambiguity that I did not write, author, endorse, or authorize the said document in any form.

“The content, tone, structure, and allegations contained therein have the clear intention of sowing discord, smearing reputations, and exploiting my name for political mischief – a cursory glance at the letter will immediately reveal the falsehood as the Senate President is not a member of the Tenders Board of the National Assembly, and therefore has nothing to do with contracts or contract awards in the Senate or NASS.

How then can he be accused of corruption in contract awards or contract padding? For further clarity, my short stay here shows that the entire premises of the National Assembly are owned and managed in its entirety by the FCDA through its contractor, Laralex Nigeria Ltd. I reject in its entirety and distance myself completely from the publication.

“I continue to hold the President of the Senate in high esteem, both personally and professionally. Our working relationship has been cordial, respectful, and grounded in cooperation and mutual trust. At no time have I expressed or harboured the sentiments contained in the said document.

“This is a deliberate attempt to weaponise my name in order to malign the leadership of the Senate and create disaffection where none exists. I urge the public, media organisations, political actors, and digital distributors to disregard, delete, retract, and desist from circulating it.

“I reaffirm my loyalty to the Office of the President of the Senate and the Senate as a whole. I remain committed to supporting the work of the National Assembly in the interest of national stability, unity, and democratic progress.”

At least, eight farmers have been abducted by bandits in the Wasagu area of Kebbi State.

The fresh attack was confirmed by Chairman of Danko Wassagu Local Government, Hussaini Wasagu,.

The local government chairman said the attackers struck in the afternoon while farmers were on their fields.

According to him Eight farmers were taken away, and one person was shot,” he said.

He said the injured victim is receiving treatment at the Wasagu General Hospital, while the council are working with security agencies to ensure the safe return of those abducted.”

Community members say the gunmen, suspected to have crossed in from neighbouring Zamfara State, operated for several minutes before escaping with their victims.