‘When travelling far, have family prepare ransom in case of abduction’ — NYSC warns corps members
The National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) has advised corps members travelling far distances via Abuja-Kaduna, Abuja-Lokoja-Okene or Aba-Port-Harcourt roads, to have their families get ransom readily available in case they get abducted.
The scheme, in a hand book handed to college graduates serving as corps members, stated that they are to inform their family members and friends before embarking on road trips.
A part of the Security Awareness and Education Handbook for Corps Members and Staff read:
“When travelling on high-risk roads such as Abuja-Kaduna, Abuja-Lokoja-Okene or Aba-Port-Harcourt roads, then alert your family members, friends and colleagues in order to have someone on hand to pay off the ransom that could be demanded.”
The NYSC and the Nigerian government came under heavy criticisms after photos from the handbook circulated on social media, forcing the scheme to issue a denial.
“Management wishes to emphatically state that the clause quoted is not embedded in NYSC Security tips pamphlet which was put together by a highly respected retired security expert,” the corps said in a statement.
However, it has been confirmed that manuals handed out to corps members contain the advisory, with many regarding it as “insensitive”.
See photos below:
