Kwara reopens schools after weeks of closure

The Kwara State Government has approved the reopening of all schools across the state from Monday.

This is coming after weeks of disruption triggered by security concerns in parts of the state.

Announcing the decision in a statement on Sunday, the Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Dr. Lawal Olohungbebe, said school authorities have been formally notified of the development.

According to the commissioner, the approval followed sustained security operations by the military and other security agencies aimed at flushing out bandits and other criminal elements from forest hideouts and flashpoints across the state.

“The government deems the situation now to be a lot better than it was before. Even so, we continue to maintain vigilance,” Olohungbebe said in a statement signed by the Press Secretary of the ministry, Peter Amogbonjaye.

He added that security operations are being maintained steadily to consolidate the gains recorded in recent weeks while the government continues to strengthen community resilience alongside kinetic efforts.

Daily Trust reports that the reopening of the schools comes against the backdrop of intensified onslaughts by security forces on bandit camps, particularly in forested areas of the state that had previously served as safe havens for criminal gangs.

Last week, troops of the Nigerian Army, working with other security agencies, carried out coordinated clearance operations in identified enclaves, leading to the dislodgement of bandits from several locations and the destruction of their camps.

Security sources have also confirmed arrests of suspected bandits and recovery of arms and ammunition during intelligence-led operations.

However, there were complaints of community members acting as informants, impacting the success of the operations.

The renewed offensive followed a wave of kidnappings and attacks on communities in parts of Kwara, which forced many schools to shut down as parents withdrew their children over safety concerns.

But Olohungbebe assured parents, students, and education stakeholders that the safety of learners and education workers remains a top priority of the government.

He urged school administrators to maintain close communication with security agencies and promptly report any suspicious activity around school environments.

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