BORNO, NIGERIA– The Borno State Commissioner for Education, Science, Innovation and Development, Lawan Abba Wakilbe, has actually led a high-powered delegation to Askira-Uba and Chibok City Government Areas to engage stakeholders on strategies to reopen schools in 7 communities affected by insecurity.
The engagement, hung on Thursday, was targeted at examining the dominating security circumstance and settling plans for the safe and sustainable resumption of scholastic activities in the impacted communities.
The schools were shut by the state government following a series of security events, including the Mussa attack of May 15, 2026, the Kautikari attack of June 13, 2026, and the Lassa attack of June 29, 2026.
The events raised concerns about the security of pupils, trainees and instructors, triggering the government to suspend academic activities in the impacted locations.
The stakeholder engagement was also designed to reinforce collaboration between education authorities, security firms, conventional organizations and local neighborhoods ahead of any decision to reopen the schools.
Commissioner Seeks Armed Force Defense
Wakilbe started the engagement with sees to the Performing Brigade Leader of the 28 Task Force Brigade, Chibok, Col. S. M. Sunusi, and the Acting Commanding Officer of the 115 Job Force Battalion, Askira-Uba, Major U. Abbas.
During the meetings, the commissioner asked for robust military security for the impacted schools and their host neighborhoods ahead of resumption.
He stressed that the security of students and teachers remained non-negotiable, offered the security challenges that caused the closure of the schools.
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The 2 military leaders vowed their dedication to securing the affected schools and producing a safe environment for mentor and knowing.
The delegation subsequently paid courtesy check outs to the Emir of Askira, His Royal Highness Alhaji (Dr.) Mai Abdullahi Ibn Muhammadu Askirama, and the Emir of Uba, His Royal Highness Alhaji Ali Samaila Mamza.
The standard rulers invited the initiative, provided their blessings and vowed the assistance of standard institutions and local neighborhoods towards the safe reopening of the schools.
Wakilbe highlighted the role of conventional rulers in mobilising neighborhoods, encouraging school enrolment and supporting the application of Safe School procedures.
Communities Urged to Assistance School Safety
At the Askira-Uba Local Government Secretariat, the commissioner met the Council Chairman, Hon. Mada Saidu, his Vice, Hon. Bilyaminu Umar Ngulde, and members of the Legislative Council.
He urged the council to enhance its ownership of standard education and boost assistance for the Safe School Effort, especially in neighborhoods affected by insecurity.
The council chairman reaffirmed the local government’s preparedness to deal with the state federal government to keep schools open while guaranteeing the protection of learners.
Members of the delegation also held town-hall conferences with neighborhood leaders and other stakeholders in Lassa, Dille and Chul.
Conversations at the meetings focused on community-led school safety, parental mobilisation, early reporting of security risks and sustained cooperation among neighborhoods, education authorities and security companies.
The commissioner advised residents to take active ownership of the protection of schools and support efforts to motivate kids to return to the class when the schools reopen.
Amongst the conventional and neighborhood leaders who got involved were the Acting District Head of Lassa, Mr Wadzani Hamadu; Wakilin District Head, Samuwa, Mallam Abdulla; Wakilin District Head, Dille, Mr James Indagiju; and Town Head, Dille, Mr Anthony Ijai Mamza.
Schools Assessed Ahead of Resumption
The engagement concluded with an evaluation session involving Education Secretaries, Head Educators and Principals from the affected schools.
Wakilbe examined the preparedness of the schools and directed administrators and instructors to begin preparations for a reliable resumption once the essential security plans are validated.
He advised school administrators to maintain close coordination with the Ministry, city government authorities, conventional organizations, host neighborhoods and security agencies.
He also directed them to make sure complete compliance with Safe School procedures as part of preparations for reopening.
The evaluation session supplied school administrators with an opportunity to raise operational issues and discuss practical steps for a smooth return to academic activities.
The state government has yet to announce a particular resuming date for the affected schools, with the timing based on the confirmation of sufficient security arrangements.
The stakeholder engagement represents part of the state’s efforts to stabilize the requirement to restore access to education with the security issues that triggered the closure of the schools.
The government is expected to continue assessments with security agencies, conventional institutions, regional authorities and neighborhoods before last plans for reopening are concluded.