OPEN LETTER TO THE GOVERNOR OF KANO STATE
24 November 2025
His Excellency, Governor Abba K. Yusuf,
Government House,
Kano State.
_URGENT CALL FOR COLLABORATIVE SECURITY AND AN END TO THE POLITICISATION OF SCHOOL CLOSURES_
Your Excellency,
The recent wave of school closures across the country—47 Federal Unity Colleges, all public boarding schools in *Katsina*, *Taraba*, *Kebbi*, *Niger*, and similar measures in several other states—mirrors the precautionary criteria we applied in Kano in November 2021.
At that time, intelligence from security agencies indicated that armed groups were targeting schools situated on interstate highways, without perimeter fencing, or located in remote, hard‑to‑reach areas. On my recommendation, the Kano State government ordered the temporary closure of those vulnerable institutions. The objective was simple: protect the lives of our children and staff while we worked with security forces to secure the environment. Within weeks, intensified security operations disrupted several kidnapping networks, and I commend the security agencies in Kano for their cordial cooperation.
The convergence of these decisions across federal and state levels is a clear endorsement of the professional, sensitive, and timely approach we adopted four years ago. It demonstrates that the measures were not only justified but also effective in saving lives.
Despite overwhelming evidence that the 2021 closures were a responsible response to an unprecedented security threat, members of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) have repeatedly portrayed the decision as insensitive and as an act of sabotage against education. Such statements are misleading and disrespectful to the families whose children were spared from harm.
There is already established evidence that the security threat exists in three of the 44 local government areas of Kano State, which underscores the urgency of adopting a similar protective approach. I trust you will not allow political considerations to dictate your response; it is not too late to swallow your pride and follow the model successfully used by your colleagues elsewhere. I urge you to be sensitive to the plight of the children in our boarding schools, whose safety hangs in the balance, and to act decisively to protect them. Parents are already anxious, and without a clear, compassionate response many may feel compelled to withdraw their children voluntarily.
I understand that the path forward may seem ambiguous—whether to “swallow your pride” and follow the proven model or to refrain for political reasons. I respectfully submit that the honourable course is to prioritize the safety of our children, irrespective of political considerations. Let us choose the path of honour and do what is necessary to safeguard the future of Kano’s students.
Yours faithfully,
Hon. Muhammad Sanusi S. Kirú, FCIA
Former Commissioner for Education, Kano State
24 November 2025