SA Security, Bibire Visits NYSC Coordinator, Reviews Security at Iseyin Camp

Special Adviser to the Oyo State Governor on Security Matters, Abayomi Fagbenro-Bibire, on Wednesday undertook a comprehensive security assessment of the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp in Iseyin, with particular emphasis on the adequacy of existing arrangements for safeguarding corps members, camp officials and other personnel.

This development followed a request by the National Youth Service Corps for the deployment of additional security personnel and further reinforcement of the security architecture around the camp.

Recall that the Nigeria Police Force had earlier alerted its commands nationwide to intelligence concerning possible coordinated attacks targeting schools, NYSC orientation camps, places of worship and other vulnerable locations, with formations directed to intensify surveillance, patrols, stop-and-search operations, access control and rapid-response arrangements.

Against this backdrop, Bibire visited the Iseyin camp to obtain a firsthand appraisal of the security situation, scrutinize the measures already in place and follow up on requests submitted by the NYSC management.

Bibire, who was accompanied by the Chairman of Iseyin Local Government, met with the Oyo State NYSC Coordinator, Kayode Ola Peters, at his camp office, where the Coordinator provided an overview of the existing security arrangements and measures being implemented to protect corps members, officials and other personnel.

Ola Peters disclosed that the camp had requested the deployment of an additional 10 armed soldiers to complement the existing 10 military personnel stationed at the camp.

He added that the camp had also requested 10 additional officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps to augment day-and-night patrols within and around the camp.

According to him, both requests had been met, with the additional personnel already deployed to reinforce the existing security arrangement.

He explained that the reinforcement was particularly important in view of the size of the facility and the increasing number of corps members accommodated during orientation exercises.

Ola Peters noted that the camp was originally designed to accommodate approximately 2,500 participants, but the number of corps members deployed during some orientation exercises had risen to about 4,000, thereby placing substantial pressure on accommodation facilities and other critical camp infrastructure.

The situation, he said, made it increasingly necessary to strengthen security provisions while simultaneously improving accommodation and other supporting infrastructure to keep pace with the expanding population of corps members.

The State Coordinator also expressed appreciation to Governor Seyi Makinde for his unbending support for the NYSC scheme, noting that the Governor had never for once decline requests emanating from them.

He specifically acknowledged the Governor’s intervention through the provision of 800 additional mattresses and the renovation of sections of the camp.

He, however, pointed out that certain areas still require further intervention if the camp is to effectively contend with its present demands and evolving security realities.

Among the outstanding requests, he said, is the provision of solar-powered lighting to illuminate poorly lit sections of the camp at night, particularly areas where inadequate visibility could create potential security vulnerabilities.

He also requested the installation of surveillance cameras at strategic locations within the camp to enhance monitoring, improve situational awareness and provide greater visibility over activities within and around the premises.

Another request is for the elevation of the perimeter fence, which is already reinforced with barbed wire, to make unauthorised entry considerably more difficult.

The Coordinator further appealed for an expansion of the accommodation facilities to bridge the gap created by the substantial increase in the number of corps members being deployed to the camp.

Responding, Bibire commended the NYSC management for the measures already instituted and lauded the security personnel for their commitment to maintaining a safe environment for corps members and officials.

He took particular note of the security arrangements at the camp entrance and the deployment of personnel within the premises, observing that such measures had become indispensable against the backdrop of the prevailing security climate.

The Special Adviser explained that his presence at the camp was informed by the need to see the realities for himself, ascertain the prevailing situation and follow up on the requests presented by the NYSC authorities.

He stressed that effective security assessment must not be confined to paperwork and official reports, but must equally involve physical visits to strategic locations, firsthand identification of security deficiencies and a proper appreciation of what personnel stationed at such locations require to discharge their responsibilities effectively.

Bibire, while reaffirming the commitment of Governor Seyi Makinde to the safety and welfare of corps members in Oyo State, assured that the administration would continue to accord due priority to issues relating directly to their wellbeing and security.

“This exercise is a reinforcement of Governor Seyi Makinde’s position that the safety of corps members, who contribute to education, healthcare, and other sectors across Oyo State, must remain a matter of priority,” he said.

Following the meeting, Bibire and his entourage commenced an inspection tour of the camp.

The inspection afforded the Special Adviser an opportunity to closely examine the physical condition of the camp, and the general environment in which corps members undertake their orientation activities.

It also provided an opportunity to assess the practical security implications of the camp’s configuration, particularly the necessity for adequate illumination, effective surveillance, controlled access, and sufficient personnel deployment.

The inspection later culminated in a salutation parade at the State Commander’s Chalet, where representatives of the various security agencies deployed to the camp received the Special Adviser.

The personnel used the occasion to express their appreciation for the visit while drawing attention to issues arising from their day-to-day responsibilities within the camp.

The interaction generated additional requests, including those earlier presented by the NYSC management concerning lighting, surveillance, accommodation and the reinforcement of the camp’s perimeter fence.

A representative of the Federal Fire Service also expressed appreciation for the visit, saying that the presence of the Special Adviser made the personnel feel “seen” and recognized for the responsibilities they discharge at the camp.

In his response, Bibire appreciated the security personnel for their service and commitment, with particular commendation for the access-control responsibilities they perform at the camp entrance and their daily efforts to maintain a secure environment.

He urged them to keep it up, and sustain close communication with the relevant authorities, particularly against the backdrop of recent intelligence concerning possible threats to NYSC camps and other vulnerable public locations.

After concluding the inspection of the NYSC camp, Bibire and his entourage proceeded to the proposed Army Battalion Barracks located along the Ipapo axis in Iseyin.

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