Nov 22, Kathmandu - The Nigerian government has ordered the closure of at least 41 secondary schools across the country after a spate of kidnappings by militant groups.

Suspected militants abducted at least 215 students and 12 teachers in a school in Niger, central Nigeria, on Friday, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) said.

Daniel Ettori, spokesman for the CAN in Niger state, said in a statement on Friday that the suspected militants attacked St. Mary’s School, a private institution in Agwara Local Government Area, and took the students and teachers hostage.

Ettori said that after meeting the parents of the kidnapped children, they were working with the government and security agencies to rescue and safely return the children.

Abubakar Usman, the Secretary to the Niger State Government, confirmed the incident, adding that intelligence reports indicated an increased security threat in some parts of the state.

He said that the government had ordered the suspension of all construction activities and the temporary closure of schools in the affected areas as a precautionary measure.

Local security agencies have reportedly launched a full-scale investigation and search and rescue operation to ensure the safe return of the students.

Military forces and other security agencies, along with paramilitary forces, have been deployed to the scene of the incident in a nearby forest to rescue the abducted students, Xinhua reported, citing Niger State Police spokesman Wasiu Abiodun.

The directive, which targets schools owned by the federal government, has already been implemented, the Ministry of Education said in a statement.