Anxiety has gripped thousands of prospective corps members and their families as the 2026 Batch A (Stream 1) orientation exercise of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) begins across the country, particularly in states affected by banditry, kidnappings, and terrorism.
The 21-day orientation, which commenced on January 21, is holding simultaneously in all 37 NYSC camps nationwide. However, deployments to high-risk states such as Zamfara, Kaduna, Katsina, Sokoto, Niger, Plateau, Yobe and Borno have raised serious safety concerns amid a recent surge in attacks, killings, abductions, and bomb scares in parts of northern Nigeria.
The NYSC had earlier announced plans to mobilise about 650,000 graduates across all streams in 2026, though only about 40 per cent are participating in the current batch. An estimated 8,000 corps members are expected to undergo orientation in the high-risk states. Yobe is hosting about 1,200 corps members, Kaduna around 2,000, Katsina about 2,050, while Zamfara, Sokoto and Kebbi are expected to receive roughly 600, 1,900 and 1,700 corps members respectively.
Several corps members deployed to volatile states described fear-filled journeys lasting up to 28 hours, marked by overnight stops and heightened caution. Many said their families were deeply worried, though some felt reassured by the heavy presence of military and police personnel at orientation camps.
Parents have also called for maximum protection. The National President of the Parents-Teachers Association of Nigeria urged governments and security agencies to prioritise corps members’ safety.
In response, some states have relocated orientation camps from high-risk areas to state capitals. Zamfara moved its camp to Gusau, Kaduna continues to use a temporary camp in Kaduna South, while Kwara relocated its camp to Ilorin. State officials insist that adequate security measures are in place to ensure a safe orientation exercise.
