The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has announced the relocation of its Kwara State orientation camp from Yikpata in Edu Local Government Area to the Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, following rising insecurity in Kwara North.
Naijaonpoint reports that the State Coordinator of the NYSC, Onifade Olaoluwa Joshua, confirmed the development in Ilorin on Thursday, explaining that the decision was taken with the approval of the state government after safety concerns were raised.
“We are fully prepared to host the orientation course, and the welfare of participants will be safeguarded. Soldiers and other security personnel will be deployed to guarantee the safety of corps members during the three-week exercise,” Onifade assured.
According to the coordinator, prospective corps members are expected to report to the temporary orientation camp between September 24 and October 14.
He added that a delegation from the NYSC headquarters would soon inspect the new venue to ensure it meets the necessary requirements for the exercise.
The decision to abandon the Yikpata camp comes against the backdrop of worsening insecurity in parts of Kwara North, especially Edu and Patigi LGAs, which have been hit by repeated bandit attacks.
Naijaonpoint understands that in recent months, dozens of residents have been killed, kidnapped or displaced in raids by armed groups, forcing many rural communities to flee.
In August, fears among corps members and their families intensified after soldiers at Yikpata camp ordered participants to remain indoors following reports of suspicious movements around the site.
Onifade expressed gratitude to both the federal and state governments for their support in ensuring corps members’ safety, while appealing for calm among parents.
“We assure parents and guardians that everything is being done to deliver a safe and successful orientation programme,” he said.
The Yikpata camp has hosted NYSC orientation exercises in Kwara State for years, but insecurity in the North Central region has increasingly made the site vulnerable.
Bandit attacks in Kwara, Niger, and Kogi states have become more frequent, with Edu and Patigi LGAs often serving as flashpoints.
Security experts have long warned that the Yikpata facility, being relatively isolated, could expose corps members to heightened risks.
This fear has now prompted the authorities to move the exercise to Ilorin, where security presence is stronger.