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The Kwara State Government has ordered the immediate closure of the Kwara State College of Education, Oro, over worsening security concerns in the area.
The directive was contained in an internal memo dated January 20, 2026, issued by the Ministry of Tertiary Education, Science and Technology on Thursday.
The memo, signed by the Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Hajia Sa’adatu Modibbo-Kawu, directed the management of the institution to shut down academic activities with immediate effect, in line with the instruction of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.
According to the document, the decision followed growing insecurity around the institution and formed part of the state government’s broader directive to close 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 memo read.
It added that the closure would remain in force pending a comprehensive security review and further directives from the state government.
“You are hereby instructed to take immediate steps to direct the Management of the College to temporarily close the institution forthwith,” the memo stated.
The school authorities were also mandated to submit a report of compliance to the ministry without delay.
The development comes amid heightened security concerns across parts of Kwara South and North, where communities have recorded cases of banditry, kidnappings and other criminal activities in recent months.
The closure follows similar precautionary actions by the state government, including the relocation of the NYSC orientation camp from Yikpata to Ilorin and the temporary shutdown of some schools in volatile areas.
However, the opposition Peoples Democratic Party criticised the decision, accusing the AbdulRazaq-led administration of “surrendering to insecurity.”
In a statement signed by its State Publicity Secretary, Olusegun Olusola Adewara, the PDP described the closure as an admission of failure by the state government.
“The directive to shut down the College of Education, Oro, under the guise of insecurity shows that the government has no coherent strategy for tackling insecurity and has instead chosen to surrender to criminals,” the party said.
The PDP argued that the institution serves as an economic and educational backbone for Kwara South and warned that its closure would deepen hardship in the region.
“Education must not become the casualty of insecurity. A government that claims to be addressing security challenges cannot justify closing schools while markets and other public places remain open,” the statement added.
It also accused the governor of poor leadership and absence from the state, calling on traditional rulers and other stakeholders to speak out against what it described as a dangerous precedent.
“If the Governor cannot protect lives and property, then honour demands that he steps aside instead of shutting down the future of our children,” the PDP said.
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