|
Listen to article
|
The Kogi State Government has ordered the temporary closure of all public and private schools following security intelligence warning of potential threats in parts of the state.
The directive, announced on Tuesday, affects primary and secondary schools across Kogi and takes immediate effect. Officials said the move was a precautionary step aimed at protecting students and teachers, not a reaction to any specific attack on schools.
The Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, said the decision was based on security briefings from relevant agencies and was taken to avoid preventable harm.
“This decision was not borne out of panic, but of responsibility,” Mr Fanwo said while briefing journalists. “We chose to act proactively rather than wait for avoidable incidents.”
He added that Governor Ahmed Ododo had instructed security and education authorities to prepare for a swift resumption of academic activities once conditions improve.
Read Also: Troops Rescue Eight Kidnapped Victims In Kaduna Forest
“Governor Ahmed Ododo has directed all relevant agencies to immediately deploy necessary modalities to ensure that schools resume academic activities as soon as it is safe,” Mr Fanwo said.
According to the commissioner, security operatives have intensified efforts to identify and dismantle criminal hideouts across vulnerable areas of the state.
“The safety of our children, teachers, and educational institutions remains non negotiable,” he said. “This administration will always prioritise lives while ensuring continuity in governance and education.”
The Kogi State Chairman of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools, Reuben Jimoh, instructed school owners to adjust their calendars by bringing forward the midterm break.
“The midterm break for school has been fast forwarded and we shall be resuming back on 16 02 2026,” Mr Jimoh said in a message circulated to proprietors. “No school should go against this adjustment.”
Read Also: Sit-At-Home: Anambra Bans School Closure, Warns Of Sanctions
Education officials said the adjustment was intended to reduce disruption while authorities assess the security situation.
The school closure comes amid heightened insecurity in parts of Kogi State, particularly in Yagba East, Yagba West and Kabba Bunu local government areas.
In recent months, several communities in those areas have experienced deadly attacks and mass abductions, forcing families to raise ransoms to secure the release of relatives. In some cases, victims were killed despite payments.
Local media, including PREMIUM TIMES, have reported a steady rise in such incidents since late December, raising concerns among residents and civil society groups.
State officials said the temporary shutdown of schools is part of broader preventive measures to strengthen security around vulnerable locations, including educational institutions.
Authorities said schools will reopen once security agencies advise that it is safe to do so.
Similar school closures have been implemented in neighbouring states such as Niger, Kebbi and Kwara in recent years following attacks on communities, schools and churches, with classes resuming after security reviews.
