The Kwara State Government has directed immediate closure of the College of Education, Oro, over rising insecurity 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.

“You are hereby instructed to take immediate steps to direct the Management of the College to temporarily close the institution forthwith,” read the memo, signed by the Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Sa’adatu Modibbo-Kawu.

The statement said the decision became inevitable amid growing insecurity around the institution, adding it formed part of the state government’s broader directive to close schools within the affected local government area.

“The measure is taken in the best interest of the safety and security of staff, students and the surrounding community,” it stated.

The statement explained that the closure would remain in force pending a comprehensive security review and further directives from the state government, mandating authorities to submit a report of compliance to the ministry immediately.

The development came amid heightened security concerns across parts of the state Kwara South and Kwara North, where cases of banditry, kidnappings and other criminal activities were recorded in recent times.

Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party criticised the decision, accusing the AbdulRaham AbdulRazaq-led administration of surrendering to insecurity.

The opposition, in a statement signed by its state’s Publicity Secretary, Olusegun Olusola Adewara, on Thursday, described the institution as an economic and educational backbone for Kwara South, adding its closure was an admission of failure by the state government.

“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.