CITIZENS COMPASS—The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) on Friday, advocated the suspension of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme following incessant kidnapping of corps members particularly the recent incident in Imo State.
Although the 20 corps members that were recently kidnapped have regained their freedom, MIRIC called on the Federal Government to suspend the scheme and stop endangering the lives of Nigerian youths.
MURIC made the call in a statement signed by its Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola.
The human rights group also demanded the immediate discharge of the 20 youth corpers who were released yesterday after spending one week in the kidnappers’ den. Their discharge should come with their NYSC discharge certificate and payment for a whole 2026/27 service year.
”20 members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) who were kidnapped in Imo State were released yesterday.
”While we do not want to dwell in the controversy surrounding the circumstances of their release or rescue, we thank Almighty Allah for the safety of the young corpers. We also congratulate their parents.
”Meanwhile it is pertinent to deliberate on the traumatic experiences of the 20 youth corpers who were released yesterday as well as other members of the NYSC scheme who have suffered similar fates in the hands of bandits and kidnappers.
”We cannot but conclude that the scheme’s greatest challenge is insecurity. We are of the opinion that our young ones do not deserve this punishment. Rather, the Federal Government (FG) has the responsibility, in loco parentis, to ensure their protection.
”However, in view of the apparent inability to do this, at least presently, we demand the suspension of the NYSC scheme until FG is able to take full control of the security situation in the country.
”We also demand the immediate discharge of the 20 youth corpers who were released yesterday after spending one week in the kidnappers’ den. Their discharge should come with their NYSC discharge certificate.
In addition, the 20 corpers should be paid what would have been due to them as allowances for the whole 2026/27 service year as compensation.
