The Kwara State Government has ordered the immediate closure of the Kwara State College of Education, Oro, citing worsening security conditions in the area. The directive, issued in a memo dated January 20, 2026, by the Ministry of Tertiary Education, Science and Technology, follows growing incidents of banditry, kidnappings, and other criminal activities in the region.
The memo, signed by Commissioner Hajia Sa’adatu Modibbo-Kawu, instructed the institution’s management to halt all academic activities immediately. “The measure is taken in the best interest of the safety and security of staff, students and the surrounding community,” it stated, adding that the closure will remain until a comprehensive security review is conducted. The college is also required to submit a report of compliance to the ministry without delay.
The closure comes amid similar precautionary actions by the state government, including the relocation of the NYSC orientation camp from Yikpata to Ilorin and the temporary shutdown of other schools in volatile areas. These moves reflect broader efforts to protect students and staff amid heightened insecurity in Kwara South and North.
However, the decision has drawn criticism from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which accused the government of “surrendering to insecurity.” In a statement, the PDP warned that shutting down the college, a key educational and economic institution in the region, could deepen hardship and called on the government to develop a coherent security strategy rather than closing schools.
