Insecurity: Kogi closes schools until Feb 16

The Kogi State Government has ordered the temporary closure of all schools across the state until February 16, citing security concerns and the need to safeguard students, teachers, and school facilities.

The State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Femi Fanwo, told journalists in Lokoja on Tuesday that the move was based on credible intelligence and was taken as a precautionary measure rather than out of fear.

According to him, the government chose to act proactively to prevent potential threats and ensure the safety of everyone within the education system.

“Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo has directed all relevant agencies to immediately put in place the necessary measures to guarantee that schools resume as soon as it is safe, without disrupting the academic calendar,” Fanwo said.

He commended security agencies for providing timely intelligence and assured residents that authorities are working round the clock to identify and dismantle criminal hideouts across the state.

“The safety of our children, teachers, and educational institutions remains non-negotiable. This administration will always prioritise lives while ensuring continuity in governance and education,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Kogi State Chairman of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools, Pastor Reuben Jimoh, informed school owners that the government had advanced the midterm break to coincide with the emergency closure.

In a message to members, Jimoh stated that schools would remain shut until February 16 and warned that no institution should violate the directive.