The Kwara State Government has ordered the immediate closure of the Kwara State College of Education, Oro, citing growing security threats in the area.
The decision was conveyed through an internal memorandum dated January 20, 2026, issued by the State Ministry of Tertiary Education, Science and Technology. The memo was signed by the Commissioner, Hajia Sa’adatu Modibbo-Kawu.
According to the directive, all academic and administrative activities at the institution are to cease with immediate effect, following the approval of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.
The government explained that the action was prompted by worsening security conditions around the college and forms part of a wider directive affecting schools within the local government area.
The ministry stated that the temporary shutdown was necessary to safeguard the lives of students, staff, and residents of surrounding communities.
“This decision is taken purely in the interest of safety and security,” the memo noted, adding that the closure would remain in place until a full security assessment is conducted and further instructions are issued by the state government.
College management was instructed to enforce the directive without delay and submit a formal compliance report to the ministry.
The development comes against the backdrop of increasing insecurity in parts of Kwara South and Kwara North, where incidents of banditry, kidnapping, and other violent crimes have been reported in recent months.
The state government has previously adopted similar precautionary measures, including relocating the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) orientation camp from Yikpata to Ilorin and shutting down schools in areas considered vulnerable.
However, the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State has condemned the closure, describing it as a sign of government failure.
In a statement issued by its State Publicity Secretary, Olusegun Olusola Adewara, the PDP accused the AbdulRazaq administration of capitulating to criminal elements rather than confronting the security challenge.
“The decision to close the College of Education, Oro, under the pretext of insecurity amounts to an admission that the government lacks a clear and effective security strategy,” the party said.
The PDP warned that shutting down the institution would deepen economic hardship in Kwara South, noting that the college plays a critical role in the region’s educational and economic development.
The party also questioned why schools were being closed while other public spaces remained operational, insisting that education should not be sacrificed in the face of insecurity.
In a sharp criticism of the governor, the opposition accused him of poor leadership and detachment from the state’s realities, calling on traditional rulers and community leaders to intervene.
“If the government cannot guarantee the safety of citizens, it should address that failure directly rather than closing institutions and jeopardising the future of our children,” the statement added.
Also Read: EFCC Recovers ₦1.2 Billion From Sujimoto, Refunds Enugu Govt
The closure of the College of Education, Oro, comes just days after the state government ordered the temporary shutdown of the Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, following protests by students over the use of the campus as a makeshift NYSC orientation facility.
