The Kwara State government has relocated the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) permanent orientation camp in Yikpata, Edu Local Government Area, to Ilorin following a wave of bandit attacks in the state.
The State Coordinator of NYSC, Mr. Joshua Onifade, announced the development on Thursday while addressing journalists in Ilorin. He said the new temporary venue for the camp would be at the Kwara State Polytechnic campus along Old Jebba Road, Ilorin.
Onifade explained that the decision was informed by security threats around the Yikpata camp, stressing that the safety of corps members remained a top priority.
“The NYSC management wishes to appreciate the unrelenting efforts of the state government and security agencies in tackling insecurity. The decision to temporarily relocate the camp is to allay the fears of our prospective corps members, especially those coming to Kwara for the first time,” he said.
The coordinator commended Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for what he described as a proactive move, adding that the governor had consistently placed the welfare of corps members at the forefront of his administration’s agenda.
According to him, 1,800 corps members are expected to participate in the 2025 Batch ‘B’ Stream 2 orientation course, which is scheduled to commence nationwide on September 24.
The relocation comes in the wake of multiple attacks in parts of Kwara. Earlier this week, gunmen suspected to be bandits stormed Kakafu village in Lade District, Patigi Local Government, killing a vigilante commander identified as Tetengi.
Residents said the attackers invaded the community around 10pm on Wednesday, shooting sporadically. Tetengi, who attempted to confront the armed men, was reportedly shot dead on the spot.
A resident said that the community had been thrown into fear, with some villagers believed to have been abducted, though the number of victims remained unclear.
“We have been left at the mercy of bandits. There was no reinforcement during the attack. The government needs to urgently step up action to check this menace,” the resident lamented.
The growing wave of abductions and killings has heightened concern across the state, with communities in Patigi, Edu, and Kaiama councils worst affected.
Meanwhile, security operatives have been deployed to monitor the new orientation camp in Ilorin to prevent any breach during the three-week exercise.
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