National Association of Seadogs has urged halting corps postings to high-risk states, citing banditry, kidnappings, and road safety concerns
The National Association of Seadogs (NAS) has called for an urgent overhaul of the deployment system of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), urging authorities to halt the posting of corps members to states grappling with heightened insecurity.
In a statement issued on on Wednesday, NAS Captain, Joseph Oteri, warned that worsening security challenges across the country now pose a direct threat to young graduates participating in the national service scheme.
“The present security realities across the country demand an urgent reassessment of how the scheme operates, particularly about the safety of corps members,” Oteri said.
He noted that while the NYSC, established in 1973 after the Nigerian civil war, has played a vital role in fostering national unity, it must not expose participants to life-threatening risks.
“National unity should never come at the cost of the lives and safety of Nigeria’s young graduates,” he added.
The association expressed concern over rising cases of kidnapping, banditry and violent attacks in several parts of the country, stressing that corps members travelling long distances for orientation and primary assignments are increasingly vulnerable.
“Incidents of kidnapping for ransom, banditry, and violent assaults on highways have become more widespread; young graduates are increasingly vulnerable to such threats,” Oteri stated.
NAS cited recent and past incidents, including the reported abduction of a prospective corps member travelling to Sokoto, as well as earlier attacks involving corps members in Zamfara and the Federal Capital Territory, noting that such cases reflect a troubling pattern over the past decade.
According to the group, corps members have faced kidnappings, violent attacks and fatal road accidents linked to deployment decisions, underscoring the need for urgent reforms.
The association, however, dismissed viral claims that families of kidnapped corps members are required to pay ransom, clarifying that no official NYSC policy supports such assertions.
While acknowledging the scheme’s contributions to national development, NAS maintained that reforms are long overdue.
“The safety of corps members must be treated as a national priority,” Oteri said.
It specifically called for an immediate ban on postings to high-risk states, including Zamfara, Katsina, Kaduna, Sokoto, Borno and Niger, citing persistent banditry and kidnapping in those areas.
“Corps members should no longer be posted to states classified as high-risk due to persistent banditry and kidnapping,” he said.
NAS also recommended integrating security risk assessments into deployment decisions, allowing corps members to serve closer to safer regions, improving organised travel arrangements, expanding insurance coverage and establishing effective emergency response systems.
Despite its concerns, the association reiterated that the NYSC remains a critical institution for national integration, but must evolve to reflect current security realities.