Kwara North Youths Protest in Ilorin Over NYSC Camp Conversion as Killings Persist

 A group of youths from Kwara North has a protest against ‘the continuous and incessant killings in their communities.

They called on the Kwara State Government to take decisive action against criminal elements operating in the area.

Speaking during the protest at the front of the government house, the group’s spokesperson, Usman Harun, popularly known as Commutator, said the demonstration was not sponsored by any individual or political group.

He expressed particular concern over the reported conversion of the Kwara State orientation camp of the National Youth Service Corps in Yikpata, Edu Local Government Area, into an Internally Displaced Persons facility.

According to him “If the NYSC camp is not secure for corps members who stay there for just three weeks before returning to Ilorin, then it should not be used to house displaced persons captured during raids of camps by government forces”.

The group further expressed concerns about ”the political and economic implications often associated with the establishment of IDP camps”.

He warned against measures that could prolong displacement rather than address the root causes of insecurity.

He rejected any form of negotiation with criminal groups, insisting that dialogue or perceived “romance” with bandits had not yielded positive results in the past.

“We do not want any form of negotiations with criminals. It never ends well. The government must take firm and decisive action to stop the killings,” the spokesperson said.

He called for a comprehensive support plan for victims and families affected by the violence, urging the state government to ensure they are not abandoned.

He also appealed to authorities to prioritise the safety of lives and property and implement sustainable security strategies to restore peace and confidence in the affected communities.

Another protester, Comrade Sehidu Musa Tsaragi, demanded for urgent government intervention to address the “worsening insecurity and abandonment of victims in Kwara North.

He also rejected alleged “transitional and secret camps” within local government areas, maintaining that such measures do not address the root causes of insecurity.

He further called for the immediate release of 176 persons allegedly kidnapped in Woro community, urging the Kwara State Government to take all necessary steps to secure their freedom.

“Our 175 family members must be returned. Whatever the government needs to do, they must ensure they are brought back,” he said.

According to him, several farmers who invested millions of naira into cultivation have been unable to harvest their crops due to security threats, worsening hunger and hardship across communities.

“Our people cannot go to the farm, market and our children cannot go to school. This must stop. We need peace in Kwara North,” he added.

The group also demanded the establishment of a functional military barracks in Kwara North to strengthen security presence and deter further attacks.

The protest took an emotional turn when a female, Khadija Ibrahim, broke down in tears while recounting how her sister was shot during a recent attack.

According to her, the incident occurred on Sunday evening when her sister stepped out briefly.

“She was hit by three bullets and there was no ambulance at the hospital. We do not even have a car in our house,” she said.

Khadija explained that the family had to move around begging for a vehicle before they could transport her sister from Lafiagi to Ilorin for emergency treatment.

“We were begging people to help us with a car. We finally arrived in Ilorin around 2 a.m. on Sunday. She had already lost a lot of blood,” she said tearfully.

She added that her sister remains hospitalised and has undergone surgery, with the family struggling to cope with the medical expenses.

“This is a cry for help, my sister Maimuna needs help, I don’t want to lose her. The government should not abandon victims like us,” she said.