The Kwara State Government has approved the reopening of schools across the state from Monday, citing improvements in the security situation following sustained operations against armed groups.
The decision was announced in a statement issued on Sunday by the Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development and signed by its Press Secretary, Peter Amogbonjaye.
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He said school authorities had been formally notified of the directive after a review of ongoing security efforts.
“Schools across Kwara State can now reopen from Monday, February 2, 2026,” Mr Amogbonjaye said. He added that the decision followed “continuous security operations to neutralise all threats to the public, including schools.”
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The government acknowledged that while security conditions have improved, vigilance remains necessary.
“The government deems the situation now to be a lot better than it was before. Even so, we continue to maintain vigilance,” the statement said, noting that security agencies are sustaining operations to consolidate recent gains.
The reopening comes more than two months after the state shut schools in parts of Kwara over rising insecurity.
On 20 November 2025, PREMIUM TIMES reported that the government ordered the immediate closure of schools in Ifelodun, Ekiti, Irepodun, Isin, and Oke Ero local government areas following fresh security concerns.
At the time, the Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Lawal Olohungbebe, said the measure was taken to protect pupils from armed groups exploiting security operations in the area.
“These measures are necessary to secure our schools and prevent criminals from exploiting pupils as shields,” he said.
That closure followed a deadly attack on a church in Eruku, Ekiti Local Government Area, which heightened fears of spillover violence into school communities and prompted broader security surveillance across Kwara South.
The latest directive also builds on a phased resumption announced earlier this year. On 4 January 2026, PREMIUM TIMES reported that the state government approved the reopening of public and private schools from 5 January, except in areas under special security surveillance, while introducing radio-based learning for communities still affected by restrictions.
Mr Olohungbebe had then explained that the staggered approach was designed to balance access to education with safety.
“This structured school resumption is designed to keep our children out of harm’s way amid renewed security operations,” he said.
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In Sunday’s statement, the government said security operations remain ongoing across the state to prevent a relapse.
According to the ministry, authorities are also working to build community resilience alongside what it described as “kinetic efforts” by security forces.
Kwara has, in recent months, recorded intensified military and police operations targeting bandit camps and kidnap networks, particularly in parts of Kwara South and Kwara North.
Officials say the reopening of schools reflects confidence that these efforts have reduced immediate risks to students and staff, even as monitoring continues in previously affected areas.
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