Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) community in Bayelsa State has been thrown into mourning following the death of a serving corps member, Ajetunmobi Sunday Dayo, who drowned during a picnic outing at Okumbiribeleu Beach in the Akassa community of Brass Local Government Area. The tragic incident occurred on Saturday, May 2, 2026, when Dayo and a group of fellow corps members visited the beach for a tourist excursion. According to community sources, the deceased was swimming alongside his colleagues when he suddenly went missing. His friends reportedly became alarmed after noticing his absence and immediately began searching for him.
The beach, located in the remote Akassa community, is a popular spot for locals and visitors despite lacking basic safety infrastructure such as lifeguards or rescue equipment. When the alarm was raised, local divers were mobilised to search for the missing corps member. However, efforts to locate him alive proved unsuccessful. The body of Ajetunmobi Sunday Dayo was eventually discovered on Monday, May 4, 2026, after the water washed his remains ashore. He was serving at Community Secondary School (CSS), Kongho, in Akassa before the unfortunate incident. The group of corps members had reportedly travelled from their lodge in Tobukiri to the beach for a relaxing outing, unaware of the tragedy that awaited.
The Public Relations Officer of the NYSC in Bayelsa State, Mrs Yvonne Halliday‑Urie, confirmed the incident, describing it as heartbreaking. “The information is true and sad. He was buried yesterday in Yenagoa. NYSC performed his burial rites according to the parents’ request,” she said. The corps member’s body was interred in Yenagoa, the state capital, after the family consented to the NYSC handling the burial. The swift burial arrangements were made to respect the family’s wishes and cultural traditions. The NYSC has since offered condolences to the family and assured other corps members of continued support.
The Bayelsa State Police Command also confirmed the drowning. The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Musa Mohammed, said investigations are ongoing to determine the exact circumstances surrounding the incident. While no foul play is suspected, police are looking into whether any safety violations or negligence contributed to the tragedy. The command has advised beach visitors, especially corps members, to exercise extreme caution when swimming in open waters and to avoid beaches lacking proper safety measures.
The drowning has sparked a wider conversation about the safety of corps members posted to riverine and coastal communities. Bayelsa State, located in the Niger Delta, is crisscrossed by creeks, rivers, and the Atlantic coastline. Many corps members are deployed to remote schools and health centres in these areas, where access to emergency services is limited. This is not the first drowning incident involving corps members in the state. In 2023, a female corps member drowned during a boat mishap while travelling to her place of primary assignment. In 2021, two corps members were swept away by floodwaters during a heavy downpour. The NYSC has previously issued safety guidelines, including warnings against swimming in unfamiliar waters, but leisure outings remain a risk.
Ajetunmobi Sunday Dayo was an ambitious young Nigerian who had completed his university education and was serving his fatherland. Friends described him as cheerful, hardworking, and beloved by his students. The news of his death has sent shockwaves through the corps members’ lodge in Tobukiri and the wider NYSC community. Some colleagues who were at the beach have reportedly been traumatised, and the NYSC has arranged for counselling services. A fellow corps member who spoke on condition of anonymity said, “We were all having fun. He was a good swimmer, but the tide was strong. We didn’t see him struggle. It happened so fast.”
The drowning has also raised questions about the duty of care owed to corps members by the NYSC and state authorities. While the scheme provides orientation training on safety and security, it does not actively monitor leisure activities. Advocacy groups have called for the NYSC to partner with local governments to identify high‑risk recreational sites and post warning signs, as well as to train beach resort operators in basic water rescue. In Brass LGA, which is chronically underfunded, such measures are unlikely without intervention from higher authorities.
The Bayelsa State Government has not issued an official statement on the incident, but the Commissioner for Youth and Sports is expected to meet with NYSC officials to review safety protocols. Meanwhile, the NYSC has reminded corps members to adhere to safety rules and to avoid swimming in open waters, strong currents, or unpatrolled beaches. The scheme has also encouraged corps members to travel in groups and to inform their local government inspectors of their whereabouts during weekends and public holidays.
For Ajetunmobi Sunday Dayo, the service year that began with hope has ended in tragedy. His burial in Yenagoa was attended by corps members, NYSC officials, and representatives of the community where he served. His parents, who had given permission for the NYSC to conduct the burial, are reported to be in deep grief. The NYSC has pledged to support the family with welfare benefits and to assist in transporting any personal belongings. The corps member’s death is a stark reminder that the risks of national service are not only from banditry and disease, but also from the natural elements in Nigeria’s beautiful but often unforgiving coastal waters.
As the NYSC continues to deploy thousands of graduates across the country each year, the challenge of ensuring their safety remains immense. The drowning in Akassa beach will, for many, be a call to action: to equip beaches with life‑saving equipment, to educate corps members on water safety, and to never again let a joyful picnic become a final farewell. For now, the family and friends of Ajetunmobi Sunday Dayo are left to mourn, and the ocean retains its silent witness.
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