Nigeria, Nov. 22 -- The Nigerian government has ordered the immediate shutdown of 47 Federal Unity Colleges across the country following a string of security incidents, including two mass abductions of schoolchildren in Kebbi and Niger states this week.

The directive is contained in a circular dated 21 November and signed by the Director of Senior Secondary Education, Binta Abdulkadir.

It mandates principals of the affected schools, most of them in northern Nigeria, to "suspend academic activities and release students with immediate effect."

The closure follows renewed attacks on educational institutions in the North-west and North-central regions.

On Monday, armed men invaded the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga,...