Tension flared at Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, on Tuesday as students staged a protest against the relocation of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) orientation camp to their campus. The demonstration escalated after police officers fired tear gas to disperse protesting students who had blocked the institution’s main gate to prevent newly deployed corps members from gaining access.

The protest followed the decision by the National Youth Service Corps to temporarily relocate the orientation camp from Yipkata in Edu Local Government Area of Kwara North, citing rising insecurity in the area. From the early hours of the day, students gathered at the campus entrance, chanting slogans and demanding that the NYSC and the Kwara State Government reverse the move.

Students argued that hosting the camp during an active academic session would severely disrupt lectures and examinations, while also raising concerns about safety, overcrowding, and welfare. They maintained that the polytechnic lacks the capacity to function as an NYSC camp alongside ongoing academic activities. Videos shared on social media showed students fleeing as a police van entered the campus, with tear gas canisters reportedly fired indiscriminately, including into student hostels, affecting both students and staff.

Confirming the incident, Acting Registrar AbdulHafis Amin acknowledged that some police officers “went beyond their mandate” during the operation. He explained that the campus was chosen as a temporary camp due to security concerns in Kwara North, noting that previous NYSC orientation exercises hosted by the polytechnic were conducted only during academic breaks. This time, however, the exercise coincided with a full session, prompting management to announce a three-week academic break to prevent a breakdown of law and order.

Following the unrest, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq ordered the immediate closure of the institution to protect lives and property. The incident has sparked renewed debate over security challenges, student welfare, and the handling of protests by law enforcement authorities in the state. Observers say the episode highlights the fragile balance between public safety decisions and the rights of students within academic environments.