Corps Members Would Not Have Been Abducted If They Stopped Travelling Late – NYSC

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) on Tuesday, in its reaction to the recent abduction of corps members, said it has advised members of the scheme against embarking on night journeys.

The NYSC Director of Press and Public Relations, Eddy Megwa stated this in an interview with Channels TV.

Naija News recall that eight corps members were abducted along a highway in Zamfara State on August 19.

The corps members were travelling from Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, to Sokoto State en route to Zamfara State, to take part in the mandatory national service.

According to Megwa, the corps members might not have been abducted if they obeyed the warning against travelling beyond 6 p.m.

Megwa, however, said that the NYSC management is making efforts to ensure the safe release of the abducted corps members.

He said, “Let’s not look at the NYSC as if we are living in a different world. NYSC is part of Nigerian society. You and I know the kind of security situation we have in the country, it is not selective, some students are kidnapped at a point, and government officials, even young children at primary and nursery schools are kidnapped.

“So NYSC or corps members are not living in a different world, but we have made it categorically clear. We told our corps members please don’t travel in the night. In their call-up letters, we stated this clearly. We said please anywhere you are, once it is 6 pm cut short your trip.

“Find a park, police station, military barracks, corps lodge or anywhere you think is safe. Park and continue your journey tomorrow.

“Now this issue in question, they got to that point around 8 pm and that Funtua road is very deadly. In fact, all passengers the moment they get to that place by 6 pm they parked but this driver continued with his trip.

“Perchance they did not travel at night, perchance they slept at a safe place at 6 p.m., all these issues we are talking about wouldn’t have happened. However, it has happened and it is our responsibility and the responsibility of Nigerians to get ensure we get them back safe and good.

“There are security measures we put in place to make sure that such issues will not happen. When you go to our orientation camps, we have our security modalities that are put in place to ensure security bridges does not occur while in orientation camps.

“NYSC is very proactive, even before the commencement of the orientation camps we made publications in traditional media, we told them specifically please do not travel at night, the management has done everything that they need to do.”