Residents of Kwara North are set for a major showdown with authorities as civil society groups and youth organisations plan a large-scale protest over worsening insecurity and the controversial conversion of a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) camp into a facility for displaced persons.
The protest, scheduled for Thursday morning at the Kwara Stadium Complex in Ilorin, is being organised by the Take-It-Back Movement alongside other youth groups from the region.
At the heart of the crisis is the decision by the state government to convert the permanent NYSC orientation camp in Yikpata into a shelter for internally displaced persons (IDPs), reportedly from the Ora-Oga community.
The camp had earlier been relocated in September 2025 to the Kwara State Polytechnic in Ilorin after rising banditry and violent attacks in the Edu/Patigi axis made the original site unsafe for corps members.
Protest organisers say the move exposes a troubling contradiction. According to them, if the Yikpata camp was declared too dangerous for corps members, it should not now be considered safe for vulnerable displaced women and children.
Beyond the camp controversy, residents say they are protesting the escalating violence in Kwara North, including kidnappings, killings, and bandit attacks.
They point to the recent Woro massacre in Kaiama Local Government Area, where gunmen reportedly killed over 160 people, burned homes, and abducted dozens. Fresh attacks have also been recorded in Gbugbu community in Edu LGA, leaving residents living in fear.
Organisers accuse the government of failing to provide adequate security and meaningful support to affected communities.
The earlier relocation of corps members to the polytechnic campus had already sparked unrest among students, who complained of displacement from hostels and disruption to academic activities.
The crisis led to police intervention, injuries from tear gas, and the temporary closure of the institution ordered by Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.
The demonstrators say they will demand:
- Immediate improvement in security across Kwara North
- Adequate support for victims of attacks
- Reversal of plans to convert the Yikpata camp
- Fair development and resource allocation for the region
They also warned that continued neglect could deepen tensions and trigger further unrest.
Rising Frustration
Observers say the planned protest reflects growing anger among youths who feel marginalised and unsafe, with many communities still traumatised and searching for missing relatives after recent attacks.
With insecurity still high in parts of the state, Thursday’s protest could become a major test of public confidence in the government’s response to the crisis.
