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Thousands of prospective corps members and their families are apprehensive as the 2026 Batch A (Stream 1) orientation exercise of the National Youth Service Corps commences across the country, particularly in states plagued by bandit attacks, kidnappings, and bomb scares.

From Zamfara to Kaduna, Borno, Yobe, Plateau and Katsina states, corps members embarking on the 21-day orientation face long and fearful journeys, even as officials insist that all measures are in place to ensure their safety.

The anxiety comes amid a surge in terrorist attacks, killings, mass abductions, and bomb scares that have gripped the northern parts of the country in recent weeks.

In a statement issued on January 6, 2026, the NYSC announced that the 2026 Batch A (Stream 1) orientation exercise would commence on Wednesday, January 21, across all 37 orientation camps nationwide.

In September 2025, the NYSC announced that about 650,000 graduates would be mobilised across all streams in 2026, up from the 400,000 deployed in 2025.

However, only about 40 per cent of registered prospective corps members are expected to participate in the current exercise, with the remaining 60 per cent slated for subsequent streams.

Based on recent media reports, certain states have emerged as hotbeds of bandit attacks, terrorism, and abductions.

These include Zamfara, Kaduna, Katsina, Sokoto, Kwara, Kogi, Niger, Plateau, Yobe and Borno states.

While official deployment figures are yet to be released, Saturday PUNCH gathered that about 8,000 corps members are projected to participate in the 21-day orientation exercise across the high-risk states.

Yobe on Friday swore in 1,200 corps members.

Kaduna State is expected to host about 2,000 corps members, while Katsina is projected to receive 2,050.

The Zamfara State NYSC Coordinator, Muhammad Ahmed, told our correspondent that about 600 corps members were expected in the state during the exercise, while Sokoto and Kebbi states would host about 1,900 and 1,700 corps members, respectively.

Corps members recount fearful trips

In separate interviews with Saturday PUNCH, corps members already in camp expressed concern over deployments to high-risk states, even as state governments maintained that security had been reinforced around orientation camps.

A corps member currently undergoing the orientation exercise in Zamfara State, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the NYSC does not permit them to speak to the press, said his greatest fear upon seeing his posting letter was the possibility of a bandit attack.

“My main fear is insecurity, the fear of bandits and kidnappers,” he said.

He explained that his parents were also anxious, but later gave their consent and prayed for him.

The corps member, a Microbiology graduate of Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic, Bauchi, said he spent about 28 hours travelling from Plateau State, where he resides, to the orientation camp in Zamfara, remaining cautious throughout the journey.

“We arrived very late in Zamfara and had to sleep over in a nearby village in Funtua before proceeding to the camp the next day. Even though there were security personnel in the village, we were still scared initially because you can’t predict an attack from non-state actors,” he added.

Another corps member in Zamfara, who also spoke on condition of anonymity, said he arrived at the orientation camp around 11am on Wednesday after nearly 24 hours on the road.

The graduate, who had been residing in Jos, Plateau State, said he broke the journey into two legs, spending the night in Zaria before continuing to Zamfara the following day.

“Since the day I saw my call-up letter, I had been worried about insecurity in the state. I was like, Zamfara again, the one we have been hearing all sorts of attacks from? I was really scared. But I said let God take the lead,” he said.

“All through my journey to the camp, I kept thinking our bus might be attacked by bandits or kidnappers. But as God would have it, we arrived safely. The fear is still there because you never can say what will happen next.”

He, however, noted that there was a strong security presence at the Zamfara orientation camp, with military personnel manning several checkpoints on roads leading to the facility.

A corps member currently camping in Borno State, who also spoke on condition of anonymity, said he was afraid during his journey from Abuja.

As of Wednesday, he noted that the Borno orientation camp was calm with heavy security presence.

He declined comment when asked if he would seek redeployment after the exercise.

A corps member posted from Lagos to Kaduna State, who identified herself as Esther, said she had feared the worst would happen but felt reassured upon arrival at the camp.

She said, “I was scared when I saw Kaduna on my posting letter, especially because of what we hear about kidnappings. But seeing soldiers and police around the camp has calmed my nerves.”

Another Kaduna corps member said he and his family had discussed safety measures extensively before he travelled for the orientation exercise.

“My plan is to stay within the camp as much as possible and strictly obey NYSC rules. My parents warned me against unnecessary movement outside,” he said.

Some corps members said they were relying on collective vigilance, early morning drills, and the presence of security operatives to stay safe during the three-week exercise.

A female corps member from the South-East said she had resolved to avoid late-night activities and limit interactions outside official camp programmes.

“We are praying and being careful. Once orientation is over, I will also be very selective about where I go for my primary assignment,” she added.

Several other corps members who spoke to Saturday PUNCH also acknowledged security concerns over postings to high-risk states but declined to comment further, citing NYSC regulations.

Parents demand maximum security

Meanwhile, the National President of the Parents-Teachers Association of Nigeria, Haruna Danjuma, said government at all levels must provide maximum security for corps members deployed in volatile states.

He said the safety of corps members must not be taken lightly, stressing that deployment should be accompanied by the highest level of protection.

The PTA national president urged security agencies to collaborate in safeguarding corps members.

“They should make sure they protect them with the highest form of security. Religious and traditional rulers should work with security personnel to ensure the safety of these children from kidnappers. They know how to do it, and they should do it right,” he added.

Efforts to reach the NYSC Director of Information and Public Relations, Caroline Embu, were unsuccessful.

Calls to her phone on Wednesday and Thursday went unanswered.

SMS and WhatsApp messages sent to her were also not replied to as of the time this report was filed.

States relocate camps from risk areas

In separate interviews with Saturday PUNCH, NYSC and state government officials across affected states said adequate security measures had been put in place to safeguard orientation camps.

The Zamfara State Commissioner for Information, Mahmud Dantawasa, said proper arrangements had been made to ensure the safety of corps members throughout the service year.

He revealed that the state government had relocated the orientation camp from Tsafe town to Gusau, the state capital, to improve security.

The state NYSC spokesperson, Samuel, also said the NYSC secretariat, in collaboration with security agencies, had put all necessary measures in place to ensure a successful three-week orientation exercise.

In Kaduna, Saturday PUNCH observed a heavy presence of security personnel from various agencies at the temporary orientation camp located within Government College, Kurmi Marshi, Kaduna South Local Government Area.

Security operatives sighted at the camp included personnel from the Nigeria Police Force, the military, and other agencies, as well as paramilitary groups such as the Man O’ War, involved in drills, crowd control, and surveillance.

An NYSC official in the state, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to the media, said the camp’s current location was due to previous security challenges.

“Talking about relocation, yes. Due to insecurity around Sabon Gaya, the permanent camp was moved to Kurmi Marshi during the administration of former Governor Nasir El-Rufai,” the official said.

He added that the military had since taken over the former camp environment to stabilise the Kaduna-Abuja highway, while the state government continues to search for an alternative permanent orientation camp.

Similarly, the Kwara State NYSC said its orientation camp had been relocated from Yikpata in Edu Local Government Area to Ilorin, the state capital, since September 2025, following rising insecurity and persistent bandit attacks in parts of Kwara North.

The NYSC State Coordinator, Onifade Olaoluwa Joshua, told Saturday PUNCH on Wednesday that the decision to move the camp to Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, was taken in the interest of safety.

“We are fully prepared to host the orientation course, and the welfare of corps members will be safeguarded. Security agencies have been deployed to guarantee safety throughout the orientation exercise,” he said.

Joshua added that the relocation was informed by repeated security reports from Yikpata and neighbouring communities, where residents had faced attacks, killings, and abductions in recent months.

A public affairs analyst in Ilorin, Waheed Bello, called on the Federal Government and the NYSC to review the locations of orientation camps in volatile regions and strengthen the country’s security architecture ahead of future exercises.

“I think both the state and federal governments need to sit down and review orientation camps in areas where there are crises or insecurity. There is nothing stopping the government from providing temporary camps rather than using one activity to disrupt the lives of others,” he said.

Saturday PUNCH