The Sokoto State government has announced the suspension of the resumption of basic and secondary schools in the State by one week.
The schools were supposed to resume on Sunday and Monday, for boarding and day students.
The suspension was announced through a statement by the spokesperson of the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Malam Ibrahim Iya, on Sunday in Sokoto.
He said the suspension was sequel to the 24-hour curfew declared by the government.
It added that the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Dr Bello Guiwa, directed all public and private schools to resume on May 22, for boarding and May 23, for day students.
“However, final year students who are supposed to begin their WAEC examination on Monday, 16th May, 2022, are not affected.
“Parents, teachers, SBMC’s and PTAs are expected to comply with the directive please,” it added.
In a related development, corps members serving in Sokoto State, especially those in Sokoto metropolis, have been advised to remain at home due to the 24-hour curfew.
This was contained in another statement from the spokesperson of the scheme in Sokoto State, Malam Sani Idris, on Sunday.
It said that the management of the scheme had contacted all the security agencies, to ensure the safety of its corps members throughout the curfew period and beyond.
“Arrangements have also been made for the police and army patrol vehicles to intensify surveillance in all of the corps members’ locations.
“Management urged corps members to remain calm and law abiding at all time, and also assured them that things would soon return to normal in the State,” it added.
The government had on Saturday declared a 24-hour curfew on Sokoto metropolis, following violent protests by some youths.
They were seeking the release of some suspects arrested by the security agencies over the killing and burning of a Christian student, Miss Deborah Samuel Yakubu, on Thursday.
Deborah Yakubu, a 200-level Home Economics student of the Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto, was alleged to have committed blasphemy in a school WhatsApp group, following which an irate mob attacked and killed her.
Her remains were said to have been buried on Saturday at her hometown, Tungar Magajiya, in Rijau Local Government Area of Niger State.
The Sokoto State government and other security agencies are also conducting investigations into the incident.
– NAN