Tension has gripped the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Orientation Camp in Yikpata, Edu Local Government Area of Kwara State, after soldiers ordered corps members to remain indoors while investigating unusual movements of unidentified persons around the facility, The Abuja Watch has gathered.
The camp, which has remained unfenced for several years, reportedly allows herdsmen and villagers to pass through freely, raising serious concerns about the safety of corps members deployed there.
A corps member in the camp, who spoke to The Abuja Watch on Monday, disclosed that although officials attempted to play down the incident, many participants felt unsettled by the development.
“They told us there’s no cause for alarm, but the truth is we sensed imminent danger,” the corps member explained.
“Security personnel instructed us, particularly the females, to go to our hostels and asked us not to come out. We heard they did this because there were strange movements near the camp and immediately asked us to remain indoors. They didn’t lock us inside, but we were instructed not to move around,” the corps member added.
According to another source, the camp remained calm on Monday morning despite the overnight tension.
“There were unusual movements, So the corps members were asked to go inside,” the source told The Abuja Watch.
The initial alarm was triggered on social media by an X user, LoveEby, who wrote, “Guys I’m so scared right now! my sis jst called and said there’s an attack in their NYSC Camp right now in Kwara state. They locked every1 in their hostels and the Soldiers are moving up and down. May God protect each and every1 of them is jst 2days left.”
Responding to the post, another X user, Ariyo, clarified: *“Y’all carrying false news up and down. But it’s just a false alarm from the girls.
“F-Soldiers yelled at Corpers to go into their hostels and one of them took it for a warning as if something had happened. The news spread so quick that even soldiers started to investigate.”*
Despite reassurances from camp officials, the feeling of insecurity remains strong among corps members, many of whom fear that the absence of proper fencing and security infrastructure leaves them vulnerable to possible attacks.
Another social media user with knowledge of the incident confirmed: “Security personnel sensed strangers were around the camp not even in the camp, we were told to stay inside not locked inside as the poster said.”
This development comes as Kwara State continues to grapple with recurring terror-related violence, especially in rural communities within Edu and Patigi local government areas.
