The Kwara State Government has directed the immediate shutdown of the Kwara State College of Education, Oro, following escalating security threats within the area where the institution is located.
The order was communicated through an internal memorandum dated January 20, 2026, issued by the Ministry of Tertiary Education, Science and Technology.
“You are hereby instructed to take immediate steps to direct the Management of the College to temporarily close the institution forthwith,” the memo, signed by the Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Sa’adatu Modibbo-Kawu, stated in part.
Modibbo-Kawu explained that the directive was issued in compliance with the instruction of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.
According to the memo, the decision was prompted by the deteriorating security situation around the college and aligns with the state government’s wider directive to suspend academic activities in all schools within the affected local government area.
“The measure is taken in the best interest of the safety and security of staff, students and the surrounding community,” the document noted.
It further stated that the closure would remain in effect until a detailed security assessment is concluded and fresh directives are issued by the state government. The management of the institution was also instructed to immediately forward a compliance report to the ministry.
The decision comes against the backdrop of mounting security challenges in parts of Kwara South and North, where several communities have experienced incidents of banditry, abductions and other criminal acts in recent months.
The development follows earlier precautionary measures taken by the state government, including the relocation of the National Youth Service Corps orientation camp from Yikpata to Ilorin, as well as the temporary closure of schools in areas considered volatile.
What you should know
The temporary closure of the Kwara State College of Education, Oro, reflects growing concerns by the state government over the safety of lives amid worsening insecurity in parts of Kwara State.
In recent months, reports of bandit attacks, kidnappings and related crimes have heightened fears in several rural communities, particularly in Kwara South and North. By suspending academic activities, the government aims to prevent potential attacks on students and staff while security agencies reassess the situation.
The move also underscores a broader strategy by the AbdulRazaq administration to prioritise public safety over routine operations until stability is restored.
