Insecurity: Anxiety as NYSC camps open in high-risk states

NYSC members

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.