Kwara State orders immediate closure of College of Education, Oro, citing rising insecurity, while PDP criticises the government’s handling of safety
The Kwara State Government has ordered the immediate closure of the Kwara State College of Education, Oro, citing escalating security threats in the area.
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An internal memo dated January 20, 2026, and signed by Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Hajia Sa’adatu Modibbo-Kawu, directed the institution to suspend academic activities.
The closure follows Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s instruction and affects all schools in the 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 stated.
The shutdown will remain in effect pending a comprehensive security review.
College authorities are required to submit compliance reports to the ministry immediately.
The decision comes amid rising cases of banditry, kidnappings, and other criminal activities in Kwara South and North.
It follows similar measures, including relocating the NYSC orientation camp from Yikpata to Ilorin and temporarily closing other schools in volatile areas.
However, the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) criticised the move, accusing the state government of “surrendering to insecurity.”
PDP State Publicity Secretary Olusegun Olusola Adewara argued that closing the institution underlines the administration’s failure to tackle crime and warned that it could worsen 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 PDP said.
The party also called for traditional rulers and stakeholders to oppose the closure.
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The closure follows the Kwara State Government’s earlier shutdown of the Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, after student protests over its temporary use as a National Youth Service Corps orientation camp.
