The Kwara State Government has ordered the immediate closure of the Kwara State College of Education, Oro, citing escalating security threats in the area that officials say pose grave risks to students, staff and the surrounding community. The decision, however, has drawn sharp criticism from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which accused the administration of “surrendering to criminals” and undermining education in the region.
The directive was communicated via an internal memo dated January 20, 2026, issued by the Ministry of Tertiary Education, Science and Technology and signed by the Commissioner, Hajia Sa’adatu Modibbo-Kawu. The memo instructed the management of the institution to cease all academic activities with immediate effect in line with a directive from Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.
“The measure is taken in the best interest of the *safety and security of staff, students and the surrounding community,” the memo said, adding that the closure would remain in force “pending a comprehensive security review and further directives from the state government.”
The state government also directed that the college administration submit a compliance report to the ministry without delay.
The closure of the College of Education in Oro is part of a wider set of emergency measures taken by the state amid intensifying banditry, kidnappings and criminal activity in parts of Kwara South and North, particularly in local government areas that have seen repeated security breaches in recent months.
Authorities had previously taken precautionary actions, including the relocation of the NYSC orientation camp from Yikpata to Ilorin and the temporary shutdown of other schools in volatile communities.
Security concerns in the state reflect a broader national trend, where spates of school closures and relocations have been implemented in areas affected by banditry and kidnappings, with federal and state authorities prioritising safety, often at the expense of uninterrupted academic calendars.
The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) reacted angrily to the decision, dismissing the closure as an act of capitulation to insecurity rather than a proactive strategy to protect lives.
In a statement signed by the party’s State Publicity Secretary, Olusegun Olusola Adewara, the PDP blasted the AbdulRazaq-led government for what it called an admission of defeat in the face of mounting security crises.
“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 PDP said.
The party warned that the shutdown could deepen hardship in Kwara South, where the institution has long served as a critical hub for education and local economic activity.
“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.
PDP officials went further, accusing the governor of poor leadership and absentee governance, and called on traditional rulers and other stakeholders to speak out against what they described as a dangerous precedent for the future of education in the state.
“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 opposition argued.
The Kwara State Government’s action follows a similar closure earlier in the week when the Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, suspended activities after student protests over its use as an NYSC orientation camp.
