Afenifere has urged the Federal Government to urgently review the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme by allowing participants to serve within their states of origin or residence.

The pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation said rising insecurity and targeted attacks on corps members across the country had made the demand unavoidable.

In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr Jare Ajayi, the group said the growing wave of kidnappings and killings involving prospective corps members travelling to orientation camps had made interstate postings increasingly dangerous and untenable.

Afenifere cited recent cases, including Sodiq Ogunlana, a graduate of Lagos State University, who was shot and abducted while travelling to the NYSC orientation camp in Ede, Osun State; Lateefah, a Kwara Polytechnic graduate kidnapped on her way to Taraba State; and Gift David Samiya, who was abducted along the Akwanga-Jos Road en route to camp.

Describing the trend as alarming, the group said it had first raised concerns in 2021, when corps members came under attack by bandits, adding that recent developments had reinforced the urgency of its earlier recommendation.

“No Nigerian deserves to be kidnapped or killed extrajudicially. Youth corps members deserve special consideration due to the peculiar nature of their service. If the scheme cannot be suspended, it should be modified to ensure participants serve within their states of origin or residence rather than being posted to unfamiliar and high-risk areas,” Afenifere stated.

The organisation warned that continued exposure of young graduates to unsafe travel routes and volatile regions could erode public confidence in the NYSC scheme and put more lives at risk.

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While focusing on the NYSC issue, Afenifere also linked the situation to the broader security crisis across the country, noting that attacks by bandits and terrorists had intensified in both the South-West and northern regions.

It stressed that decisive action must be taken to protect citizens, particularly vulnerable groups such as corps members, adding that safeguarding the future of Nigeria’s youth should be a top national priority.

The group reiterated that reviewing the NYSC posting policy in light of prevailing security realities is not only necessary but urgent, warning that failure to act could lead to more tragic incidents involving young Nigerians serving their fatherland.

Afenifere also stressed the need to prioritise non-kinetic strategies while strengthening intelligence operations.

It expressed concern that many attacks are carried out by armed groups on motorcycles, questioning how such convoys evade detection.

According to Afenifere, the ability of these groups to operate freely suggests possible complicity among certain security operatives, community leaders and influential individuals.

The organisation also called for a thorough investigation into illegal mining activities, alleging that miners often move into communities shortly after residents are displaced by attacks.

Afenifere further referenced unverified reports of aircraft allegedly supplying arms and logistics to bandits, noting that such flights could not occur without official authorisation.

(The Sun )