Security Concerns: NAS Advises Against Deploying Corps Members to Danger Zones

The National Association of Seadogs, also known as Pyrates Confraternity, is urging authorities to reform the National Youth Service Corps deployment system immediately, citing the need to stop posting corps members to states plagued by insecurity, according to a statement signed by its Cap'n, Dr Joseph Oteri.

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The association warns that the worsening insecurity across Nigeria poses a direct threat to young graduates participating in the scheme, and that the present security realities demand an urgent reassessment of how the scheme operates, particularly regarding the safety of corps members.

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Dr Joseph Oteri stressed that while the NYSC has played a critical role in promoting national unity since its establishment in 1973 after the civil war, it must not expose participants to life-threatening risks, emphasizing that national unity should never come at the cost of the lives and safety of Nigeria's young graduates.

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The NAS cited rising cases of kidnapping, banditry, and violent attacks across several parts of the country, noting that corps members travelling long distances for orientation and primary assignments are increasingly vulnerable to such threats, with incidents of kidnapping for ransom, banditry, and violent assaults on highways becoming more widespread.

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Dr Oteri referenced recent and past incidents, including the abduction of a prospective corps member travelling to Sokoto and earlier attacks involving corps members in Zamfara and the Federal Capital Territory, which reflect a disturbing pattern over the past decade where corps members have faced kidnappings, violent attacks, and fatal road accidents linked to deployment.

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The association dismissed viral claims that families of kidnapped corps members are required to pay ransom, noting that no official NYSC policy supports such assertions, while acknowledging the scheme's contributions to national development.

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The NAS insisted that reforms are overdue, with Dr Oteri stating that the safety of corps members must be treated as a national priority, and that the group specifically calls for a ban on postings to high-risk states, naming Zamfara, Katsina, Kaduna, Sokoto, Borno, and Niger as areas where frequent attacks have made travel dangerous.

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According to the NAS, corps members should no longer be posted to states classified as high-risk due to persistent banditry and kidnapping, and the association further recommended integrating security risk assessments into deployment decisions, allowing corps members to serve closer to safer regions.

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The NAS also recommended improving organised travel arrangements, expanding insurance coverage, and establishing emergency response systems to ensure the safety of corps members, despite its concerns, the association maintained that the NYSC remains a vital institution but must evolve to reflect current realities.