The Kwara State Government has ordered the immediate closure of Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, following unrest on campus linked to the use of the institution as a temporary orientation camp for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
The directive was issued by Governor Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq as tensions escalated and security agencies intervened to prevent a breakdown of law and order.
In a statement signed by the Acting Registrar, AbdulHafis Aminl, the Polytechnic management explained that the state government had designated the institution as a temporary NYSC orientation camp due to prevailing security challenges in the state.
According to the management, the first two orientation exercises held when students were either on break or when academic activities had not fully resumed. However, the current exercise coincided with a period when students were fully in session.
To ensure the smooth conduct of the NYSC programme, the management announced a three-week break for students, effective from Monday, January 19, 2026. This decision, however, was met with resistance from some students who protested, citing their recent resumption from the Christmas and New Year holidays.
The protest reportedly led to tension at the institution’s main gate, prompting police intervention. The management alleged that while officers were deployed to restore order, some exceeded their mandate by firing tear gas canisters into the Polytechnic premises, including student hostels. Several students and staff were said to have been affected, while the institution’s Chief Security Officer sustained injuries during the incident.
“In view of the development, His Excellency, the Executive Governor of the State, Mallam Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq, has directed the closure of the Polytechnic to ensure the safety of lives and property of the entire Polytechnic community,” the statement said.
The management appealed to students, staff, and other stakeholders to remain calm, assuring that discussions are ongoing with relevant authorities to resolve the situation.
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