The Kwara State Government has ordered the immediate closure of Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, following a students’ protest over the use of the institution as a temporary National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) orientation camp.
The decision, approved by Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, was taken to prevent a further breakdown of law and order after the protest escalated into violence, resulting in injuries and widespread disruption on campus.
Confirming the closure in a statement on Tuesday, the Acting Registrar of the Polytechnic, AbdulHafis Amin, said tensions rose after students objected to management’s decision to suspend academic activities for three weeks to accommodate the ongoing NYSC orientation exercise.
According to the statement, the polytechnic was designated as a temporary NYSC camp due to prevailing security challenges in the state. While previous NYSC batches were hosted during periods when students were on break, the current exercise coincided with full academic activities.
Management said students were directed to proceed on a three-week break effective Monday, January 19, 2026, to ensure a smooth orientation exercise and maintain campus security. However, some students reportedly rejected the directive, citing the fact that they had just resumed from the Christmas and New Year holidays.
The protest later escalated, leading to the deployment of security operatives. The polytechnic alleged that police officers fired tear gas into the campus, including student hostels, affecting several students and staff. The institution’s Chief Security Officer was also reported to have sustained injuries.
The Students’ Union Government (SUG), in a statement signed by its president, Maruf Ibrahim, condemned the use of force, insisting that the protest was peaceful and driven by concerns over safety, welfare, and academic disruption.
Eyewitnesses said panic broke out when security operatives allegedly fired gunshots to disperse students, causing some to collapse and sustain injuries. Videos circulating on social media showed a heavy security presence and students fleeing the campus.
Reacting to the incident, the Kwara State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) accused the state government of poor planning and condemned what it described as excessive force against unarmed students. The party called for an independent investigation and a public apology.
As of the time of filing this report, the Kwara State Police Command had not issued an official statement on the incident.