Kogi Shuts Schools for Two Weeks Over Security Threats

By BANNERNEWS Reporter
The Kogi State Government has ordered the closure of all schools across the state, including tertiary institutions, for an initial period of two weeks over rising security concerns.
The decision, aimed at safeguarding students, teachers and school infrastructure, was announced on Tuesday by the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Femi Fanwo, in Lokoja.
Fanwo described the measure as temporary and purely preventive, explaining that it was based on credible intelligence reports and the need to strengthen protective measures around educational institutions.
According to him, the action was not taken out of panic but responsibility, stressing that the government opted to act proactively rather than wait for avoidable incidents.
He commended security agencies for providing timely and actionable intelligence, noting that their collaboration reflects the effectiveness of the state’s security architecture.
The commissioner reassured residents that the government remains firmly in control of the situation, adding that security operatives are working round the clock to identify, locate and dismantle criminal hideouts across the state.
“The safety of our children, teachers and educational institutions is non-negotiable,” Fanwo said, adding that Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo has directed all relevant agencies to put modalities in place to ensure schools reopen as soon as it is safe, without disrupting the academic calendar.
Meanwhile, the Kogi State Chairman of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), Pastor Reuben Jimoh, has directed all private schools to comply immediately with the closure order.
Jimoh said the midterm break had been brought forward, with resumption now fixed for February 16, 2026, warning that no school should flout the directive.
Several parents and guardians also confirmed receiving official notices from schools, informing them of the emergency break and advising students to continue studying at home pending a new resumption date.
The development comes amid intensified security operations by the state government, which recently launched sustained offensives against bandits’ hideouts in forest areas, reportedly neutralising scores of the criminals.