Thousands of prospective corps members and their families are gripped by anxiety as the 2026 Batch A (Stream 1) orientation exercise of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) begins across the country, particularly in northern states troubled by banditry, kidnappings and bomb threats.
From Zamfara to Kaduna, Borno, Yobe, Plateau and Katsina, corps members embarking on the 21-day orientation programme face long and tense journeys, despite assurances from authorities that security arrangements are in place.
The concern follows a recent wave of terrorist attacks, killings, mass abductions and bomb scares that have unsettled large parts of northern Nigeria.
In a statement issued on January 6, 2026, the NYSC announced that the 2026 Batch A (Stream 1) orientation exercise would commence nationwide on Wednesday, January 21, across all 37 orientation camps.
Earlier, in September 2025, the scheme disclosed plans to mobilise about 650,000 graduates across all streams in 2026, an increase from the 400,000 deployed in 2025. However, only about 40 per cent of registered corps members are participating in the current stream, with the remaining 60 per cent scheduled for later batches.
Recent media reports have identified several states as high-risk areas for banditry, terrorism and abductions, including Zamfara, Kaduna, Katsina, Sokoto, Kwara, Kogi, Niger, Plateau, Yobe and Borno.
Although official deployment figures have not been released, about 8,000 corps members are expected to participate in the orientation exercise across these high-risk states. Yobe has already sworn in 1,200 corps members, while Kaduna is projected to host about 2,000 and Katsina 2,050. Zamfara is expecting around 600 corps members, with Sokoto and Kebbi preparing to receive about 1,900 and 1,700 respectively.
Fearful journeys
Several corps members already in camp recounted harrowing travel experiences and lingering fears about insecurity.
A corps member in Zamfara said his greatest worry after receiving his posting letter was the threat of bandit attacks. The Microbiology graduate said he spent about 28 hours travelling from Plateau State to Zamfara, sleeping overnight in a village near Funtua due to the late hour.
“Even with security personnel around, we were still scared. You never know what could happen,” he said.
Another corps member described splitting his journey into two legs, spending the night in Zaria before continuing to Zamfara. “All through the trip, I feared we might be attacked, but we arrived safely. The fear is still there,” he said, adding that heavy military presence now surrounds the camp.
In Borno, a corps member said he was initially afraid while travelling from Abuja but noted that the camp remained calm with strong security deployment.
A corps member posted from Lagos to Kaduna said she felt reassured after arriving and seeing soldiers and police stationed around the camp. Others said they planned to remain mostly within camp premises, avoid unnecessary movement and strictly follow NYSC rules.
Parents demand tighter security
The National President of the Parents-Teachers Association of Nigeria, Haruna Danjuma, urged government authorities to prioritise the safety of corps members deployed to volatile areas.
He called for stronger collaboration among security agencies and local leaders to protect the youths, stressing that their safety must not be taken lightly.
Efforts to reach the NYSC Director of Information and Public Relations, Caroline Embu, were unsuccessful as calls and messages went unanswered.
Camps relocated for safety
Officials confirmed that several states had relocated orientation camps away from high-risk areas.
In Zamfara, the camp was moved from Tsafe to Gusau to improve security, while Kaduna’s permanent camp in Sabon Gaya was earlier relocated to Kurmi Marshi due to insecurity along the Kaduna-Abuja highway.
Similarly, Kwara State moved its camp from Yikpata to Ilorin in September 2025 following persistent bandit attacks in Kwara North.
The Kwara NYSC coordinator said security agencies had been deployed to ensure the safety of corps members throughout the exercise.
A public affairs analyst, Waheed Bello, called on the Federal Government and NYSC to reassess camp locations in volatile regions and strengthen security ahead of future deployments.
“There is nothing stopping the government from establishing temporary camps in safer areas rather than risking the lives of young graduates,” he said.
