By Maryjane Austine
Kwara Closes Schools in Four LGAs as Insecurity Escalates in Southern District
The Kwara State Government, on Wednesday, ordered the immediate closure of schools across four Local Government Areas due to rising insecurity in the affected communities.
The directive was conveyed by the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Kwara State Wing, in a circularar issued and signed by its Chairman, Yusuf Agboola. According to the circular obtained by The PUNCH, schools in Isin, Irepodun, Ifelodun, and Ekiti LGAs have been shut down until further notice.
Agboola stated that the union acted strictly on instructions from the Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development after the government raised concerns over fresh security threats in Kwara South.
“Comrade chairmen, this is to inform you and, through you, all schools in the above local governments of the instruction to close down all schools with immediate effect until further notice,” the circular read.
“This decision was occasioned by the security challenges ravaging the area and the efforts of the government to control the situation. Treat this information as important and with the urgency it deserves, as it emanated from the ministry.”
He assured school heads and teachers that further directives would be communicated as the situation unfolds.
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Meanwhile, Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, who visited Eruku in Ekiti LGA on Wednesday for an on-the-spot assessment, announced plans to seek the establishment of a Forward Operating Base of the Nigerian Army and a Mobile Police Squadron in the community. This followed a deadly attack on a church in Eruku on Tuesday night, during which three worshippers were killed and over 35 abducted.
The governor revealed that he had already engaged the General Officer Commanding, 2 Division, and the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, on the urgent need for enhanced security in the crisis-hit area.
“We will speak with the GOC to see that we have a Forward Operating Base in Eruku to enhance security here and also talk to the Inspector General of Police about establishing a mobile squadron here,” Abdulrazaq said.
“It is indeed unfortunate what happened yesterday despite all the effort we have been making. Our main purpose here is to commiserate with the people of the community. All the security agencies are on this. The President had to cancel his trip to the G-20 because of this incident and that of Kebbi State. So the President is aware, and we are on top of the situation,” he added.