Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Growing fears over the safety of young Nigerian graduates serving under the National Youth Service Corps programme have ignited a fresh national debate, with parents demanding that the Federal Government either guarantee adequate security or consider scrapping the decades‑old scheme entirely. The call, coming from the leadership of the Parent‑Teacher Association of Nigeria and supported by human rights advocates, reflects rising anxiety about kidnappings, killings and violent attacks targeting corps members across different parts of the country.
The demand was publicly voiced by the National President of the Parent‑Teacher Association of Nigeria, Haruna Danjuma, who warned that parents are increasingly disturbed by reports of young graduates being abducted or attacked while travelling to or participating in the compulsory national service programme. According to him, families invest enormous time and resources raising their children through university, only for them to face life‑threatening dangers during the mandatory service year.
Danjuma argued that because the programme is compulsory for most graduates, the Federal Government bears a legal and moral responsibility to ensure the safety of participants. He insisted that if authorities cannot provide adequate security guarantees, then the rationale for continuing the scheme becomes questionable. The PTA leader suggested that one way forward would be to require state governments and their security agencies to formally guarantee the protection of corps members before they are posted to those states.
The concerns follow a disturbing incident involving a prospective corps member identified as Musa Abba, a graduate of Plant Science and Biotechnology from the Federal University Gusau. Abba was reportedly abducted by armed bandits on January 9 while travelling to Sokoto State to resume his national service. The kidnapping quickly drew national attention after a video circulated online showing the young graduate being beaten by his captors. According to reports, the attackers demanded a ransom of ten million naira for his release.
The situation became even more tragic for the victim’s family. Unable to immediately raise the ransom demanded by the abductors, relatives reportedly believed he had been killed and held burial rites for him on March 5. Days later, another video surfaced showing the abducted graduate still alive but visibly weak and in distress while in captivity. The images sparked widespread outrage and intensified public debate about the security risks faced by young Nigerians serving under the national programme.
Human rights organizations have also weighed in on the controversy, emphasizing that the concerns raised by parents are legitimate and require urgent government attention. The Executive Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, Isa Sanusi, said it is unacceptable for families to be left to negotiate with kidnappers or struggle to pay ransom after their children are abducted while serving the nation. He argued that institutions responsible for mobilizing and deploying corps members must ensure their protection throughout the service year.
Sanusi also criticized what he described as a systemic failure to provide adequate support for families of kidnapped corps members. In several reported cases, relatives have had to raise ransom payments themselves while waiting for authorities to intervene. According to rights advocates, this situation raises serious questions about the duty of care owed by the government and the NYSC management to the young graduates participating in the programme.
The latest controversy highlights broader security challenges affecting Nigeria. The country has faced years of violence linked to banditry, insurgency, communal conflicts and kidnapping for ransom. Armed groups operating in several northern and central states frequently target travellers, rural communities and educational institutions, creating an environment in which students and youth corps members are increasingly vulnerable.
These concerns are not entirely new. Over the years, corps members have been caught in various security incidents including kidnappings along highways, attacks by criminal gangs and violent unrest in host communities. In some cases, participants serving as ad hoc election workers have also been attacked during political violence. The recurrence of such incidents has prompted periodic calls for reforms or even the abolition of the national service programme.
Despite the criticism, supporters of the NYSC scheme maintain that it remains one of the country’s most important national integration initiatives. Established in 1973 by the government of General Yakubu Gowon after Nigeria’s civil war, the programme was designed to promote unity by deploying graduates to states outside their ethnic or regional backgrounds. For more than five decades, millions of Nigerian graduates have participated in the scheme, working in schools, hospitals, government offices and community development projects.
Proponents argue that the programme has helped bridge ethnic and cultural divides while exposing young Nigerians to different parts of the country. Many former participants credit their service year with providing valuable professional experience, social networks and leadership opportunities. For some communities, corps members also serve as teachers, medical personnel and development volunteers in areas where skilled workers are scarce.
However, critics say the realities of modern Nigeria’s security challenges require a serious reassessment of the programme. Some policy analysts believe that instead of completely abolishing the scheme, the government could introduce reforms to reduce risks. Suggestions have included allowing graduates to serve within their geopolitical zones, strengthening security escorts for travel to orientation camps, and creating emergency response mechanisms for corps members deployed in vulnerable areas.
Others have proposed making the programme voluntary rather than compulsory. Under the current system, most Nigerian graduates must complete the one‑year national service before they can secure employment in many government institutions or large private companies. Critics argue that forcing participation in a programme that may expose young graduates to security threats raises serious ethical and policy concerns.
For many parents, however, the debate ultimately comes down to a simple question: whether the state can guarantee the safety of young citizens asked to serve the nation. Until clear assurances are provided, calls for the reform or abolition of the NYSC programme are likely to grow louder.
The controversy underscores the difficult balance between preserving a historic national institution and responding to the urgent security concerns facing Nigeria today. As the country continues to grapple with widespread insecurity, the fate of the NYSC scheme may depend on whether authorities can restore public confidence in the safety of the young graduates who participate in it.
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