The House of Representatives on Thursday has tasked the Inspector General of Police and the management of the National Youth Service Scheme, NYSC to provide adequate security for good habitation facilities for Youth Corp members across the country.
The House also wants the Inspector General of Police (IGP), the Director-General of NYSC and relevant agencies to investigate this case of a missing Corps member, Okeke Chukwuemeka Godwin and initiate measures for the safety and welfare of Corps members in every host community.
In a resolution following a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Nnolim Nnaji (PDP, Enugu), the House wants the IGP to intervene by conducting a comprehensive search and rescuing of Godwin, the missing Youth Corps member, as the matter is seriously affecting the lives and mental state of the family, most especially the mother.
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While moving the motion, Nnaji said the NYSC was established to engage Nigerian university graduates in effective community services and nation building across ethno-linguistic boundaries, however the scheme has been threatened by myriads of abductions, incessant attacks and murder due to the inadequate facilities and general welfare.
According to him, there is an optimum obligation of providing safe environment and facilities for NYSC members on Federal and State Governments in conjunction with security agencies while serving or posted in various host communities.
He expressed concern that Okeke Chukwuemeka Godwin from Umuanyi Village, Ovuorie, Ugbawka Community in Nkanu East LGA of Enugu State has been missing till date, while serving in Ondo State under Batch 23B.
He said the corps member was supposed to complete his NYSC program on June 17th, 2024, but got missing on May 9th, 2024, which was the particular day his parents couldn’t reach him on his mobile phone numbers till date.
He disclosed that on the 13th of May, 2024, the mother of the missing Corp member, Mrs. Okeke Patience and his younger brother, went to Akure, Ondo State, to verify the situation and thereby visited his place of primary assignment and residence but could not get any vital information.
He said: “The relatives reported the matter to the Nigerian Poli (Ijakpo Police Division) who sent signal to other police stations and the police headquarter in Ondo State for investigation, but after some interrogations, the family has not been fully communicated on the outcome of these investigations.
“The relatives also reported the matter to the local government and State office of the NYSC, including the community leadership but up till date the matter is still pending without any information leading to his rescue.
“On the 19th of June, 2024, the mother of Godwin with two other relatives and a journalist visited the Ondo State Police Command, the NYSC State and local government offices, where the journalist made some inquiries and produced a documentary via Trust Television, meanwhile the mother visited and reported the matter and her ordeal at NYSC National Secretariat, Abuja.
“The Commissioner of Police in Ondo State and the State Coordinator of NYSC with the management of the scheme have not taken adequate measures to search and rescue the missing Corp member.
“The negative and culminating effects of various State Governments not being proactive in taking adequate measures to provide basic accommodation facilities, clinics, enabling environment and other necessities has been very devastating to the safety and welfare of corps members.”