In response to rising insecurity in parts of Kwara State, the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has announced the temporary relocation of its orientation camp from the permanent site in Yikpata, Edu Local Government Area, to the Kwara State Polytechnic campus in Ilorin for the 2025 Batch ‘B’ Stream II exercise.
The Kwara State NYSC Coordinator, Mr. Onifade Olaoluwa Joshua, stated that the relocation of the orientation camp from its permanent location in Yikpata, Edu Local Government Area, received official approval from the Kwara State Government.
Speaking at a press briefing in Ilorin on Thursday, Onifade explained that the move was prompted by security concerns, which he attributed to what he called “perpetrators and enemies of progress.”
Onifade assured prospective Corps Members and their parents of adequate security and smooth conduct of the three-week exercise. According to him, armed soldiers and other security personnel will be deployed to safeguard the lives and welfare of participants.
He expressed appreciation to both the Federal and State Governments for their intervention and support, stressing that NYSC Kwara was fully prepared to host the orientation course.
The coordinator further revealed that heads of various assignments had commenced preparations to receive Corps Members, who are expected in camp from Wednesday, September 24 to Tuesday, October 14, 2025.
“For the purpose of assessing the level of preparedness, the Director-General of NYSC, Brigadier General OO Nafiu, has directed Mrs. Abiodun Oluwaremilekun, Director, South West Area Office I, Osun State, to inspect and evaluate the temporary venue,” Onifade added.
He reiterated the scheme’s readiness to conduct a hitch-free and successful orientation programme in Kwara State.
The move comes as insecurity in Kwara State continues to escalate, particularly due to frequent bandit attacks that have resulted in kidnappings, fatalities, and the displacement of several communities.
According to a report by The Informant247, tension had previously gripped the NYSC camp in Yikpata during the Batch B Stream I orientation exercise in August.
Although camp management minimized the severity of the incident, many corps members were left uneasy after soldiers instructed them to remain indoors while unusual movements by strangers around the facility were investigated on the night of August 17.
