CSO To FG: Suspend NYSC Over Insecurity

A civil society organisation, the Human Rights and Justice Group International has called on the Federal Government to suspend the National Youth Service over the spate of killings and kidnapping in the country.

The group stated this against the backdrop of rising of killings occasioned by kidnappings, terrorist attacks and other criminal activities across the country.

On February 2023, gunmen reportedly kidnapped 15 NYSC members at a motor park at Iseke in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State when they were travelling to Lagos.

They were, however, rescued by the state Police Command.

Also in August 2023, eight Akwa Ibom State tertiary institution graduates who were on their way to Sokoto State to take part in the mandatory national service were kidnapped by gunmen along a highway in Zamfara.

Recently, kidnappers invaded the Sagwari community in Abuja on Sunday, January 7, at about 7:30pm, and kidnapped 11 residents, including a mother, her four children and a receptionist from a nearby hotel.

A final year student of the Bayero University, Kano, Talatu Salihu, who was among the victim was, however, killed by the terrorists after her family could not pay the ransom to the terrorists while also issuing a threat to kill her two siblings if ransom was not paid.

Speaking with Saturday PUNCH, the CSO’s Executive Director, Prince Nze, said the country was no longer safe and added that the continued posting of youths for the scheme was putting their lives in danger.