The Kogi State Government has ordered the temporary closure of schools across the state for two weeks as part of efforts to safeguard lives and property.
The State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mr Kingsley Femi Fanwo, disclosed this on Tuesday in a statement issued to newsmen in Lokoja.
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The state government said the decision was a "purely preventive measure, taken on the basis of credible intelligence and the overriding need to put protective measures in place around schools to safeguard pupils, students and teachers."
According to the government spokesperson, "the decision was not borne out of panic, but of responsibility," stressing that the government chose to act proactively rather than wait for avoidable incidents.
The government commended security agencies for providing timely and actionable intelligence, noting that such cooperation underscores the effectiveness of the state's security architecture.
He reassured residents that the government is fully on top of the situation, adding that security agencies are working round the clock to identify, locate and decisively deal with criminal hideouts.
The government further stated: "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.
"Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo has directed all relevant agencies to immediately deploy necessary modalities to ensure that schools resume academic activities as soon as it is safe, so as not to disrupt the state's academic calendar."
Meanwhile, the Kogi State Chairman of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), Pastor Reuben Jimoh, has directed members to comply with the order immediately.
In a statement, Jimoh said: "The mid-term break for schools has been fast-tracked and we shall be resuming on February 16, 2026.
"Therefore, there will be no school until February 16, 2026. No school should go against this adjustment."
Also, several parents and guardians confirmed receiving messages to that effect from their wards' schools.
A parent, simply identified as Saidu, said he received the message: "Dear parents, please be informed that the school received a directive to proceed on emergency break with effect from February 4, 2026.
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"Resumption date will be announced later. Please encourage your ward to read at home."
Recently, the state government has intensified its offensive against bandits' hideouts in forest areas, neutralising several of the criminals in the process.
