The Federal Ministry of Education has directed the closure of Federal Government Colleges (FGCs) located in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and ordered immediate evacuation of students.
It was gathered that the decision was as a result of rising insecurity and threat to the lives, security and wellbeing of the students therein.
While some schools were asked for vacate latest on Wednesday, some other schools disseminated messages to parents on Sunday asking them not to fail to come pick their children on Monday, unfailingly, perhaps, due to rising fear, anxiety and threat.
On Sunday night, unconfirmed reports trended on Social Media indicating that there were heavy shootings in Federal Government Colleges (FGCs) Kwali, Abuja, and parents were rushing to the school to ascertain the safety of their children and possibly return home with them until calm is restored.
Daily Sun could not reach the school authorities for reactions, but a parent identified as Chika whose three children are in FGC, Kwali, confirmed that a message came from the school that parents should come pick their children not later than Monday noon.
A senior staff at FGGC, Bwari, said the directive they received from the Federal Ministry of Education was that students should vacate the school before Wednesday.
Similarly, a parent whose son is in JSS 3 in Federal Government Boys’ College, Apo, confirmed that the school is shutting down on Monday as against the date in the calendar and parents have been asked to come pick their children on Monday unfailingly.
He said: “My son told me that they were rushed to finish their examination, that they wrote four subjects everyday which, to me, was too much for the brain of these children. I also learnt that Federal Government Technical College, Orozo, Abuja, sent children packing since Friday last week, immediately they rushed them to finish the examination as against the calendar. This is abnormal, and it’s an indication or points to the fact that there’s a threat, and it’s wise for the schools to release the children back to their parents.”
At press time, Director of Press, Federal Ministry of Education, Mr. Ben Goong, could not be reached for reactions.
However, a senior staff of the Ministry admitted that the situation was not normal and it could be because of the rising insecurity at the fringes of Abuja where the schools are located, and the need to secure the lives of the students that prompted the decision to shut the schools abruptly.
Daily Sun