Insecurity forces Kwara corps members out of Yikpata Camp

By Oluwatoyin Hawal Momolosho –

The spate of insecurity sweeping through communities in the Edu, Patigi, Ifelodun, and Baruten Local Government Areas of Kwara State has now taken its toll on the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) orientation camp in Yikpata, Edu Local Government Area.

No less than 1,800 corps members had to be moved from Yikpata to Ilorin, an unprecedented interruption to the NYSC programme in Kwara State in recent years.

The State Coordinator of the NYSC, Mr Joshua Onifade, said that the move was necessary.

“The decision to temporarily relocate the camp is to substantially allay the fears of our prospective corps members, especially those who will be visiting the state for the first time,” he said.

The decision of the Kwara State Government to relocate the orientation camp to Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, was based on credible intelligence reports, WESTERN POST learnt. Security operatives had to be deployed to both Yikpata and Ilorin to guarantee safety during the transition.

For the corps members in the state, their apprehension was justified, as they shared varied accounts of sleepless nights for fear of bandit attacks. At some point, officials restricted corps members indoors following suspicious movements behind the camp fence line.

Onifade assured that the relocation would not disrupt activities, adding that lectures, skills training, cultural nights, and posting to Places of Primary Assignment would proceed as scheduled.

“We are fully prepared to host the orientation course, and the welfare of participants will be safeguarded,” he stressed.