The Kwara State Government has closed down 45 public schools in various communities across the state following a surge in bandit attacks and security threats in some local government areas.
The Executive Chairman of the Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board (KWSUBEB), Prof. Sheu Ibrahim Adaramaja, disclosed this during the Inter-Ministerial Press Briefing Report organized by the Ministry of Communications on Tuesday in Ilorin, the state capital.
A reports that the government’s decision comes amid rising concerns over the safety of pupils and teachers in communities recently targeted by armed groups.
Bandits Kidnap Three INEC Officials, Others On Their Way To Anambra Ahead Of Governorship Election 45 Public Schools Closed Over Security Threats According to Prof. Adaramaja, the affected schools are located in Babanla, Baba Sango, Sangbe, Oke-Ode, and other parts of Kwara North where attacks and abductions have been reported in recent weeks.
He explained that the temporary closure was a preventive measure to safeguard students and staff from possible bandit attacks. “We cannot allow our schoolchildren and teachers to become victims of insecurity. The safety of our pupils and teachers is our priority.
We have therefore decided to close schools in areas identified as high-risk,” Adaramaja said. He added that teachers from the affected schools have been redeployed to safer locations to ensure continuity of teaching and justify their monthly salaries.
Teachers Redeployed, Promotions Approved Adaramaja also announced that Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has approved the 2025 promotion exercise for teachers across the state as part of efforts to boost morale and enhance productivity in the education sector.
“This administration values its teachers and remains committed to improving their welfare. The governor has approved the 2025 promotion for qualified teachers, and this will be implemented immediately,” he stated.
In addition, the KWSUBEB Chairman revealed that the state government has abolished the payment of Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) levies in all public schools to ease the financial burden on parents. Growing Insecurity in Kwara North The latest action follows growing tension in parts of Kwara North, particularly in Patigi Local Government Area, where residents have been protesting against what they described as worsening insecurity.
Last week, hundreds of residents, including youth and community leaders, staged a mass protest in Patigi town, calling on the state government to urgently address the rising cases of killings, kidnappings, and armed attacks in the area.
The protesters, carrying placards with inscriptions such as “We are not safe” and “Stop the killings now,” gathered at the town centre to demand government intervention. They accused the authorities of neglecting their plight despite repeated calls for help, warning that the situation could lead to a total economic collapse in the region if urgent measures are not taken.
Residents Cry Out Over Rising Banditry According to reports, several communities in Patigi and neighbouring areas have been attacked by armed Fulani bandits, leaving residents in fear and forcing many to flee their homes. One of the protesters told journalists that “unknown armed men now patrol farmlands and roads at night,” preventing locals from going to their farms or moving freely. “We find it difficult to sleep at night because of constant fear.
The situation has forced doctors at the General Hospital, Patigi, to abandon their duty posts. There are no doctors in the hospital now — patients are dying daily,” a community leader said.
The protesters alleged that new and unfamiliar faces had recently been sighted among Fulani settlers at Kara Market, which they believe may have become a hub for criminal activities.
They called on the government to relocate the market and deploy additional security personnel to the area to stem the tide of attacks. Community Leaders and Youths Demand Action Elders and youth leaders who joined the protest appealed directly to Governor AbdulRazaq, urging him to take decisive action to restore peace and protect lives. “We are being killed day and night. We can’t go to our farms, and our food is rotting away.
M Anyone who says Kwara State is peaceful is not telling the truth,” one youth leader lamented. They also criticized Senator Sadiq Umar, representing Kwara North Senatorial District, accusing him of misrepresenting the security situation before the Senate. “Senator Sadiq went to the chamber and claimed that Kwara North is safe.
It is not true. We are dying every day. Ransom payments worth millions of naira are being made while our communities suffer,” the protesters said. Government’s Position and Next Steps Prof. Adaramaja assured residents that the state government was working closely with security agencies to stabilize the affected areas and reopen the schools once peace is restored. He said the government would not compromise the safety of students or teachers and urged communities to remain calm while the security agencies intensify operations in the region.
Summary of Key Developments Action Taken Details Schools Closed 45 public schools shut due to insecurity in Babanla, Oke-Ode, and other areas Teachers Redeployed Relocated to safer schools within the state PTA Levies Abolished in all public schools Teacher Promotion Approved for 2025 by Governor AbdulRazaq Community Reaction Protests in Patigi LGA over worsening bandit attacks Health Impact Patigi General Hospital abandoned by doctors due to fear of attacks What This Means for Kwara State The closure of 45 schools underscores the deepening security crisis in Kwara North, where rural banditry and kidnappings have disrupted education, healthcare, and local economies. Security analysts warn that without urgent intervention, the region risks an escalation similar to what has been seen in parts of Niger and Kaduna States. Residents continue to call for more military presence, improved intelligence gathering, and community-police collaboration to prevent further violence.
