Banditry: COED Oro reopened as Kwara govt records improved security

The Kwara State College of Education, Oro, in Irepodun Local Government Area, has reopened for academic and administrative activities following improved security conditions across the state.

The reopening was announced in an internal memorandum issued on Monday and sighted by The PUNCH. The memo, referenced CEO/ADMIN/27/Vol.1/268 and dated February 2, 2026, was signed by the Deputy Registrar, Information, Protocol and Publicity, Mrs. Lawal Taibat Saka-Bolanta.

Addressed to staff and students and released from the Office of the Registrar, the memorandum confirmed that the institution had resumed with immediate effect.

“In line with the directive of His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Kwara State, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, I write to inform staff and students of the re-opening of the college with immediate effect,” the memo stated.

It added that both academic and administrative activities would commence immediately, while the college management expressed appreciation to the state government, the Ministry of Tertiary Education and other stakeholders for their support during the period of closure.

The reopening followed an earlier announcement by the Kwara State Government on Sunday that schools across the state would resume from Monday, February 2, after months of closure due to security challenges.

The decision was conveyed in a statement by the Press Secretary of the Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development, Mr. Peter Amogbonjaye, quoting the Commissioner for Education, Dr. Lawal Olohungbebe.

According to the commissioner, school authorities had been duly informed, adding that security conditions had significantly improved.

“The government deems the situation now to be a lot better than it was before. Even so, we continue to maintain vigilance,” he said.
The statement noted that security operations remain ongoing to consolidate recent gains, alongside efforts to strengthen community resilience in collaboration with security agencies.

The Informant247 had earlier reported that the College of Education, Oro, was shut a few weeks ago following security threats in the area, forcing students to vacate the campus and disrupting academic activities.

The closure had sparked concern among parents, education stakeholders and residents over the safety of staff and students.

The latest development also comes months after the state government ordered the closure of primary and secondary schools in November 2025, as insecurity escalated in parts of Kwara State, particularly border and forested communities affected by banditry and kidnapping.

At the time, the government described the shutdown as a precautionary measure to safeguard learners, teachers and other education workers.

However, authorities now say sustained military and security operations have led to the neutralisation of several criminal elements and the restoration of relative calm in previously affected areas.

Security agencies are maintaining a strong presence in vulnerable communities, with intensified intelligence gathering and community engagement to prevent a resurgence of criminal activities.

The state government has also urged parents, teachers and school administrators to cooperate with security agencies and remain vigilant, assuring residents that adequate measures are in place to guarantee the safety of students and education workers across Kwara State.