“We told them not to travel at night” – NYSC blames kidnapped corps members
The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has responded to claims of abandonment by parents of eight corps members who were abducted in August while traveling to Sokoto State for their primary assignments.
NYSC Director of Press and Public Relations, Eddy Megwa, blamed the kidnapped corps members for their ordeal.
The incident, which occurred on August 21, 2023, saw the corps members being kidnapped by suspected terrorists while on their way to camp in Zamfara State.
READ ALSO: Families of kidnapped corps members beg NYSC to save their children
Travelling in an Akwa Ibom Transport Company (AKTC) bus from Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, the corps members’ vehicle was intercepted by hoodlums. Though there were initially 11 corps members and a driver in the bus, three managed to escape during the attack, leaving the remaining eight and the driver in the hands of the abductors.
Emmanuel Esudue, a graduate of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering, from Akwa Ibom State University, and Victoria Udoka, a graduate of Mass Communication from the University of Uyo were among the young graduates who were kidnapped by the terrorists.
SaharaReporters also reported on August 24, that the Nigeria Police Force and the army had organised a search party for the kidnapped corps members.
On Monday, September 4, Mr Emmanuel Etteh, father of one of the kidnapped corps members accused security agencies and the NYSC of not showing concern towards the plight of the victims and their families.
Eddy Megwa said the corps members ignored the warning of NYSC by embarking on a night journey.
The NYSC’s Director emphasised this point during an interview with Channels TV, highlighting the importance of ensuring the safety and well-being of corps members by following the guidelines set by the NYSC, which include refraining from traveling after 6 p.m.
Megwa 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 were 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 p.m., cut short your trip. Find a park, police station, military barracks, corpers’ 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. All passengers, the moment they got to that place by 6 p.m., they parked but this driver continued with his trip.
“If only they did not travel at night or 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 responsibility of Nigerians to ensure we get them back safe and good.”
He also added that the NYSC was working on security measures to ensure it wouldn’t happen again.
“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 breaches do 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,” Megwa stated.