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The National Youth Service Corps has confirmed the death of a corps member in Abeokuta Ogun State, with a staff member of the scheme now in custody over suspected involvement in the incident.
The development was disclosed in a statement shared on the scheme’s official handle on Tuesday by its Director of Information and Public Relations Caroline Embu.
According to the NYSC, the incident is currently under investigation by security agencies, while the staff member linked to the case has already been arrested.
“The Scheme is aware of the news circulating in the media concerning the suspected involvement of a staff member. We wish to confirm that the matter is currently under investigation by relevant security agencies, and the individual concerned has been taken into custody,” the statement read.
The management expressed condolences to the family of the deceased corps member, describing the incident as tragic, and assured that it would cooperate with authorities to ensure justice is served.
“We assure the public that we are cooperating fully with law enforcement authorities to ensure that the truth is established and that justice is served,” the scheme added.
The NYSC also stressed that it operates a strict code of conduct for both staff and corps members and would not tolerate misconduct or abuse of office.
The incident, which reportedly occurred in Abeokuta, has since drawn reactions from Nigerians on social media, with some raising concerns about the safety of corps members and the conduct of officials at the local government level.
A user identified as Judd Bankz called for improved protection, “The government should enforce some sort of security for corps members. Same news is being repeated daily.”
Another commenter, Oleku Master, criticised the scheme for not addressing other cases, saying, “You can address this but failed to talk about the corps member that was kidnapped and dehumanised by bandits.”
Olamaths also alleged prior complaints about officials, claiming some cases were ignored before escalating.
“A friend of mine talked about that LGI before this incident… there are many LGIs perpetrating this,” the user wrote.
Similarly, Musty accused some officials of abusing authority over corps members, while another commenter, Augustus, said the situation reflects deeper issues in how local government inspectors relate with corps members.
The NYSC however, urged the public to avoid speculation as investigations continue, maintaining that the safety, welfare and dignity of corps members remain a priority.
