Banditry in Zamfara State has severely impacted communities, especially the education system. In Gwashi, a village in Bukkuyum Local Government Area, Abubakar Sani recalls how the violence escalated over time. Initially, the bandits looted stores and stole livestock, but they soon began kidnapping people and demanding ransom. These actions instilled fear in the residents, especially in the village’s only primary school, where Sani served as the headmaster.
As the attacks grew more frequent, teachers, most of whom lived outside the village, stopped attending school for their safety. By 2021, the school had to shut down entirely. This story is far from unique. PREMIUM TIMES has identified over 60 schools across multiple LGAs, including Anka, Bukkuyum, Maru, Shinkafi, Zurmi, and Tsafe, that have been closed due to the worsening insecurity caused by banditry.
Zamfara already had a high number of out-of-school children, and the ongoing violence has only deepened the crisis. Parents are afraid to send their children to school, and teachers are too fearful to teach. This has left thousands of children in rural areas without education, worsening an already fragile education system.
Bandits have abducted over 1,700 students and teachers in the past few years, contributing to the country’s staggering number of out-of-school children. According to UNESCO, Nigeria now has over 20 million children out of school. The constant threat of violence continues to prevent children in Zamfara from accessing education and pursuing their dreams.
Nafisa Isa, a teacher in Abare village, shares her experience. Fear of banditry caused parents to stop sending their children to school, and teachers, too, stopped attending. “It’s been a year and three months since the school was forced to shut down,” she said, highlighting the severe impact of insecurity on education in the region.
Zamfara’s education crisis underscores the need for urgent action to restore safety and allow children to return to school. With the ongoing attacks, the future of thousands of children hangs in the balance. The need for peace and stability in the region is more urgent than ever, as education continues to suffer under the weight of banditry.
