Kwara Govt Shuts Schools in Four LGAs After Deadly Terror Attacks
Ilorin, Nigeria – November 20, 2025
The Kwara State Government has ordered the immediate shutdown of schools across four Local Government Areas following a string of deadly terror attacks that have heightened fears of further violence targeting civilians, including children.
The affected LGAs are Isin, Irepodun, Ifelodun, and Ekiti, all located in the troubled Kwara South region.
The directive, issued through the Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development, instructs schools to remain closed “until further notice,” according to a circular released by the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Kwara State chapter.
The emergency shutdown comes just days after terrorists attacked Christ Apostolic Church in Eruku, Ekiti LGA, killing at least three worshippers and abducting several others, including the church pastor.
The attack, which occurred on November 18, shocked the community and drew condemnation across the state.
In a separate incident, terrorists abducted four rice farmers in Bokungi village, Edu LGA.
Two of the abducted farmers were later confirmed killed, an attack that has heightened concerns about the safety of rural communities and the potential impact on food production during harvest season.
Authorities say intelligence reports indicate that terrorist groups may be planning further attacks, with some warnings suggesting that schoolchildren could be used as “human shields” during operations.
Boarding schools in Irepodun LGA were reportedly flagged as particularly vulnerable.
As a result, the government claims to have activated special security measures across five LGAs, Isin, Irepodun, Ifelodun, Ekiti, and Oke Ero, to protect schools and critical infrastructure by shutting down the schools.
Education Commissioner Dr. Lawal Olohungbebe said schools would only reopen once security agencies give clear assurances of safety.
The state government has also held high-level meetings with military and police commanders to stabilise the region.
The latest shutdown adds to a growing list of educational disruptions in Kwara. Just weeks earlier, the government closed 45 public schools in other communities due to escalating terrorist attacks.
The closure, though considered by some as necessary for immediate safety owing to the lack of security effort, however, has raised concerns about prolonged learning gaps, psychological distress for students, and the increasing fragility of rural livelihoods.
Parents and teachers warn that indefinite disruptions threaten the academic future of thousands of children.
Security analysts argue that while school closures may offer temporary protection, they underscore a deeper structural failure to contain terrorism in Nigeria.
As residents not sure of the possibility of a return to normalcy, the Kwara government claims it is working closely with federal security agencies to restore peace and ensure safe learning environments for children across the affected communities.
