Insecurity: Allow Corps Members Serve In Home States – Afenifere Tells NYSC

The National Youth Service Corps, NYSC has been issued an advisory to allow corps members to serve in their respective home states.

Naija News understands that the advisory was issued on Monday, September 27 by the Pan Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere.

Afenifere challenged President Muhammadu Buhari to do all that he had said to world leaders at the 76th United Nations General Assembly in New York last week.

Afenifere’s National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Jare Ajayi, while reacting to a handbook issued by NYSC to corp members titled, ‘Security Awareness and Education Handbook For Corps Members and Staff’, said allowing the youths to do the compulsory one year service in their home states will reduce the chances of the serving youths being kidnapped.

Meanwhile, it was reported earlier that page 56 of the NYSC handbook, advised corps members travelling on “high-risk” roads to alert their “family members, friends and colleagues to have someone on hand to pay off the ransom that could be demanded” in case they are kidnapped.

The Scheme listed such roads as “Abuja-Kaduna, Abuja-Lokoja-Okene, or Aba-Port Harcourt” roads.

The awareness had raised concern among Nigerians even though NYSC later in a statement denied giving the advice.

Reacting to the controversial paragraph of the book, Afenifere said, “Since it has been admitted even by the Federal Government agency that we may need to live by kidnap syndrome as indicated by this NYSC tip, the minimum that the government owes parents and corners in this regard is to let the youths serve their nation in their respective states.

“That way, their chances of being kidnapped would greatly be minimized.”

The group also lamented that the government’s poor handling of kidnapping was what has emboldened the perpetrators to continue in their dastardly acts.

“We call on the government to immediately allow states to transform their respective security networks into state police with all the powers appertaining thereto,” Afenifere stated.

Naija News understands that several serving corps members were kidnapped and killed recently.

The Abuja-Kaduna, Abuja-Lokoja-Okene and Aba-Port-Harcourt roads have among others witnessed an unprecedented spate of kidnapping as rampaging bandits waylay travellers, take them hostage until their families and associates pay huge amounts of money before releasing them.

School students have been the most affected by the disturbing events of the unscrupulous elements; and parents of prospective corps members kicking against the posting of their wards to bandits-ravaged states. But despite their objection, thousands of fresh graduates are still being posted to high-risk zones.