JOS — Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang has ordered the closure of all public and private primary and secondary schools in the state from Monday, September 7, 2026, until further notice, following an outbreak of diphtheria. Suspected cases have been reported in Jos North, Wase, Jos South and Bassa local government areas. The Commissioner for Health, Dr Nicholas Baamlong, had earlier said about 23 people had died, while nine patients were receiving treatment at the Jos University Teaching Hospital and Plateau Specialist Hospital. The closure order was announced in a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information, Joyce Lohya Ramnap. Schools that had already resumed were also directed to close.