Author name: Umar Idris Shuaibu

A former Commissioner of Education in Kano State, Hon. Muhammad Sanusi S. Kiru, has defended the 2021 closure of selected schools in the state, saying recent nationwide shutdowns of schools due to escalating insecurity have vindicated the precautionary measures taken during his tenure. In a statement released on Saturday, Kiru recalled that the Kano State Government ordered the temporary closure of schools in early 2021 after security intelligence indicated that armed groups were targeting institutions located on interstate highways, lacking perimeter fencing, or situated in remote areas with delayed access for emergency response. He explained that the decision was aimed strictly at safeguarding students and staff, noting that the affected schools met specific risk criteria. According to him, the closures were followed by intensified security operations that disrupted several kidnapping networks at the time. Read Also: Former Education Commissioner Criticizes Relocation of GGSS Maikwatashi, Calls It a Misguided Decision Kiru praised security agencies in Kano for what he described as a highly cooperative working relationship during his tenure, urging the current administration to strengthen collaboration with security formations rather than “condemning them through cheap blackmail.” His comments come days after the Federal Government ordered the immediate shutdown of 47 Federal Unity Colleges across the country due to rising security threats. Katsina State also closed all public boarding schools following recent abductions, while other states have taken similar measures in response to heightened attacks on educational institutions. Kiru stated that these actions closely mirror the risk-based approach adopted in Kano in 2021, describing the alignment between federal and state decisions as “a clear endorsement” of the method used by the previous administration. He argued that the consistency of these measures across different levels of government shows that the earlier closures in Kano were professional, evidence-based, and timely. The former commissioner criticised the NNPP-led Kano State Government for what he described as the politicisation of past security decisions, urging it to “never again play politics with issues of safety.” He said repeated attempts to portray the 2021 closures as insensitive were misleading and disrespectful to families whose children may have been protected by the move. Kiru called on the present administration to review the security reports that informed the 2021 closures, retract what he termed “unfounded allegations,” and publicly acknowledge that the previous government’s actions were appropriate and life-saving. The statement was signed by Hon. Muhammad Sanusi S. Kiru, FCIA, who served as Kano State Commissioner of Education during the period in question.