Schools in Benue, Niger, and Katsina are now being used as shelters for thousands of people displaced by bandit attacks, leaving many children out of class.
In Benue, communities such as Guma, Logo, Agatu, Kwande, Gwer West, Apa, and even Makurdi have had their schools occupied for years, disrupting normal teaching. Parents say only those who can afford private schools still send their children to learn, while others either stay at home or try to study under trees.
In Logo LGA, NKST Primary School has been housing displaced families for approximately five years, meaning the children there have not received proper schooling during this time. A worried parent from Gwer West said the situation is “seriously affecting education” and called on the government to provide proper camps for the IDPs.
Education experts are also raising an alarm, warning that the continued use of schools as IDP camps is worsening illiteracy, increasing the number of dropouts, and exposing children to child labour and early marriage. They fear that if the situation is allowed to continue, many idle youths may later turn to crime, creating even bigger security problems in the future.
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