The Management of the National Youths Service Corps, NYSC, in Nigeria has debunked as false a story alleging the killing and abduction of some Corps Members deployed to the North-East and North-West geo-political zones of the country by bandits in July, 2021.
The Scheme in a statement signed by it Director of Press and Public relations, Mrs Adenike Adeyemi and made available to Journalists restated that the story with the above caption, peddled by a local media and quoting The Punch Newspaper as source was misleading.
Mrs Adeyemi explained that “this same medium on Thursday, 29th July, 2021 came up with a fake story with the caption: “Nearly 200 NYSC members murdered across the Northeast this year as kidnapping escalates.
“As earlier stated every discerning mind knows that story is false. No Corps Member deployed to the North-East and North-West geo-political zones of the country was killed, neither was any abducted by bandits in July, 2021, as reported.
“Management would have ignored this story, but had to issue this rebuttal for the sake of undiscerning minds who may swallow the fake news, hook, line and sinker”, she added.
The NYSC image makers appealed to both the mainstream and new media, as opinion moulders and critical stakeholders in the polity to always place national interest above every other consideration in their reportage, noting that, anything contrary has the propensity to create apprehension in the minds of parents, guardians and other stakeholders.
Adeyemi further stated that the Scheme will continue to prioritise the security and welfare of Corps Members which is the cardinal policy thrust of the Scheme.
Emmanuel Ukoh
