By By Elizabeth Ugbo
Parents and civil society groups have urged the Federal Government to scrap the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) after repeated attacks on corps members. The call came on Saturday as the National President of the Parent-Teacher Association of Nigeria (PTA), Haruna Danjuma, raised concerns about rising kidnappings of graduates deployed across Nigeria. He spoke while reacting to the abduction of corps member Musa Abba, who was kidnapped on January 9 while travelling to Sokoto for national service.
Parents Demand Protection for Corps Members
Danjuma said parents fear for the safety of their children during the mandatory service year.
He explained that many families invest years in raising and educating their children. However, insecurity now threatens those efforts.
“Parents are not happy about what is happening,” he said.
“It is painful to train a child from birth through university, only for the child to face kidnapping during NYSC.”
Furthermore, he stressed that the Federal Government must protect corps members since the programme is compulsory.
“We have said it repeatedly. The government must guarantee the security and welfare of all Nigerians,” he added.
Kidnapped Corps Member Sparks Nationwide Concern
The concern intensified after the kidnapping of Musa Abba, a graduate of Plant Science and Biotechnology from the Federal University Gusau.
Gunmen abducted him while he travelled from Zamfara State to Sokoto to begin his NYSC programme.
Later, a disturbing video surfaced online. The footage showed Abba being beaten by bandits after his family failed to pay a N10 million ransom.
Meanwhile, reports say his family held a burial ceremony for him on March 5 after losing hope.
However, the abductors later released another video showing him alive but visibly weak.
As a result, the incident renewed concerns about the safety of corps members nationwide.
Amnesty International Criticises NYSC Response
The Executive Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, Isa Sanusi, also supported the parents’ concerns.
He argued that NYSC must take responsibility for corps members throughout their service year.
According to him, families should not negotiate with kidnappers alone.
“They mobilised these young people. Therefore, their safety must remain the responsibility of NYSC,” he said.
He added that expecting families to raise ransom money shows a failure of responsibility.
“For NYSC to leave parents struggling with ransom payments is irresponsible,” Sanusi said.
Experts Call for Stronger Security Measures
Security experts and civil society groups now demand stricter deployment policies.
Sanusi stressed that NYSC should stop posting corps members to high-risk areas.
“The current security situation requires stronger measures,” he said.
“NYSC must ensure that nobody gets deployed to dangerous locations.”
Similarly, Danjuma urged the Federal Government to involve state governments before deploying corps members.
He suggested that governors should sign agreements guaranteeing the safety of corps members in their states.
Scrap NYSC If Safety Cannot Be Guaranteed
Danjuma warned that the government must take urgent action.
If authorities cannot protect corps members, he said the scheme should end.
“If you cannot protect these children, then scrap the NYSC,” he said.
According to him, the value of the programme disappears if young graduates remain unsafe.
Rising Security Threats to Corps Members
In recent years, several corps members have faced kidnappings, attacks, and killings across Nigeria.
Many incidents occurred during travel to orientation camps or during primary assignments.
Consequently, parents and advocacy groups continue to demand stronger protection measures for young graduates participating in the national service scheme.
