Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq on Tuesday ordered the closure of Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, following disturbances that threatened law and order over the temporary relocation of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) orientation camp from Yikpata to the Polytechnic campus due to security concerns.

In a statement issued in Ilorin on Tuesday, the Acting Registrar of the institution, Abdulhafiz Amin, said the governor’s directive was aimed at ensuring the safety of lives and property within the Polytechnic community.

The state government had previously designated Kwara State Polytechnic as the temporary NYSC orientation camp in response to prevailing security challenges in the state.

The Polytechnic management explained that during earlier camp exercises, students were either on break or had not fully resumed. However, for the current session, students were in full attendance.

“To manage the situation and prevent any breach of law and order, the management granted students a three-week break starting Monday, January 19, 2026, to facilitate the smooth conduct of the NYSC orientation camp. Unfortunately, some students reacted negatively, arguing they had just returned from the Christmas/New Year break, which led to tensions requiring police intervention,” the statement said.

It added that police were initially tasked with dispersing the crowd at the Polytechnic’s main gate, but some officers exceeded their mandate by deploying tear gas into the campus, including student hostels. This action affected several students and staff, including the Polytechnic’s Chief Security Officer, who sustained injuries.

“Consequently, Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq has ordered the closure of the Polytechnic to safeguard lives and property within the entire Polytechnic community,” the statement concluded.

The management called on students, staff, and stakeholders to remain calm and cooperative while it continues to engage relevant authorities to resolve the matter amicably and promptly.