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Catholic Church shuts down schools over insecurity
The Catholic Archdiocese of Ibadan has ordered the immediate suspension of operations in all Catholic schools under its jurisdiction following growing concerns over insecurity and recent cases of kidnapping in Oyo State.
The directive was contained in a notice issued by the Communication Directorate of the Archdiocese and signed by the Secretary of the Archdiocesan Education Committee, Rev. Fr. Julius A. Akinyode.
According to the notice, the decision was taken on the Archbishop’s instructions in response to recent reports of security threats across the state.
“In the wake of the recent reports on security and cases of kidnapping across the state, the Archbishop has directed that all Catholic schools suspend operation with immediate effect,” the statement read.
The Archdiocese also directed the management of boarding schools to immediately contact parents and guardians to pick up their children. Parents were asked to collect their wards from the schools from 8:00 a.m. on Thursday, June 4, 2026.
The notice stated that information regarding the resumption of academic activities would be communicated later by the Education Directorate.
The closure comes amid heightened concerns over the safety of students and educational institutions following recent incidents of abduction and insecurity reported in parts of Oyo State.
Church authorities expressed appreciation for the cooperation of parents, staff and school administrators, while assuring them that further updates would be provided as the security situation develops.