Schools in parts of northern Nigeria began reopening on Monday, as students returned to classrooms after closures prompted by a surge in violent kidnappings targeting educational institutions.

According to Reuters, the reopening comes nearly two months after mass abductions in the region led state and federal authorities to shut down many schools to protect pupils and staff.

The closures followed a wave of kidnappings in November 2025 that drew global attention. Gunmen abducted hundreds of students and teachers from schools in Kebbi and Niger states, with hundreds taken hostage during coordinated attacks on boarding schools.

Under a circular issued by the federal government last month, security forces deployed enhanced protection around some learning centres, creating what authorities described as safer conditions for school resumption. However, the government has not publicly shared specific details about the security measures put in place.

In Kaduna State, a 17-year-old student told Reuters she found it “difficult” to return to school after being away for about two months. She said being back around friends and teachers was important for her, even amid ongoing safety concerns. Her father, Haruna Danjuma, said the decision to send his daughter back to class was hard, but he believed “fear of kidnapping should not deprive children of their right to education.”

Despite the reopenings, some schools in the affected central Niger area remain closed. State officials have said that institutions in zones still considered insecure will remain shut until authorities are confident they can protect students and staff. Among these is Saint Mary’s Catholic School in the Papiri hamlet, which has not resumed classes due to persistent threats.

The fresh term opening has been welcomed by parents and students who stayed away for weeks, but many families still express anxiety about safety, urging the government to do more to secure roads and community areas leading to schools.

Human rights and education advocates have stressed that long closures harm learning and widen gaps in education, particularly for girls and vulnerable learners who are most affected by prolonged absence from school.

The return to classrooms marks a fragile but hopeful step toward normalcy for many communities living under the shadow of insecurity in northern Nigeria.