Nigeria, Jan. 3 -- The Niger State Government has announced plans to reopen public and private primary and secondary schools across the state, weeks after a wave of insecurity, including the mass abduction of pupils from a Catholic school, forced authorities to shut down educational institutions.

The decision followed what the government described as a detailed security assessment and consultations with security agencies, according to a statement issued on Friday by the governor's spokesperson, Bologi Ibrahim.

"The decision to reopen schools followed a careful security assessment and extensive consultations with relevant security agencies, in line with the state government's commitment to safeguarding lives while ensuring uninterrupted ...