The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has stressed its advisory against night journeys for corps members in the wake of the recent abduction of eight corps members in Zamfara State.
Eddy Megwa, the NYSC Director of Press and Public Relations, emphasized this precaution during an interview with Channels TV.
The abduction occurred on August 19 when the eight corps members were traveling from Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, to Sokoto State, passing through Zamfara State as part of their mandatory national service.
Megwa suggested that the abduction may have been prevented if the corps members had adhered to the NYSC’s warning against traveling beyond 6pm.
He assured that the NYSC management was actively working towards securing the safe release of the abducted corps members and urged both prospective and serving corps members to strictly follow the NYSC’s safety guidelines, which include avoiding night journeys.
Megwa explained, “We told our corps members, please don’t travel at night. In their call-up letters, we stated this clearly. We said, please, anywhere you are, once it is 6pm, cut short your trip. Find a park, police station, military barracks, or corps lodge, or anywhere you think is safe. Park and continue your journey tomorrow.”
Regarding the specific incident in question, he noted, “They got to that point around 8pm, and that Funtua road is very deadly. In fact, all passengers the moment they get to that place by 6pm, they park, but this driver continued with his trip. Perhaps, if they had not traveled at night, perhaps if they had slept at a safe place at 6pm, all these issues we are talking about wouldn’t have happened.”
Despite the unfortunate incident, Megwa reiterated the NYSC’s commitment to ensuring the safety of corps members, mentioning that security measures are in place at orientation camps to prevent security breaches.
He added, “NYSC is very proactive. Even before the commencement of the orientation camps, we made publications in traditional media, telling them specifically, please do not travel at night. The management has done everything they need to do.”
The NYSC’s message underscores the importance of adhering to safety guidelines to protect the well-being of corps members during their service year.
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