The Kwara State Government has directed the immediate closure of the Kwara State College of Education, Oro, citing escalating security challenges 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 and obtained by PUNCH Online on Thursday.
Signed by the Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Hajia Sa’adatu Modibbo-Kawu, the memo instructed the management of the institution to suspend all academic activities with immediate effect, following the approval of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.
According to the document, the decision was prompted by rising insecurity around the institution and aligns with a broader state government order affecting all schools within the troubled 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 stated that the closure would remain effective pending a full security assessment 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 institution’s authorities were also directed to submit an immediate compliance report to the ministry.
The development comes amid growing security concerns in parts of Kwara South and North, where incidents of banditry, kidnapping and other criminal activities have been reported in recent months.
The closure follows other precautionary measures taken by the state government, including the relocation of the National Youth Service Corps orientation camp from Yikpata to Ilorin and the temporary shutdown of schools in volatile communities.
However, the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) faulted 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 a sign of governance failure.
“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 plays a critical economic and educational role in Kwara South, warning that the shutdown would 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 statement added.
The party also accused the governor of weak leadership and absentee governance, urging traditional rulers and other stakeholders to resist what it described as a dangerous trend.
“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.
The development comes days after the Kwara State Government ordered the closure of the Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, following student protests over the institution’s temporary use as a National Youth Service Corps orientation camp.
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