The Emir of Suleja, Alhaji Muhammad Ibrahim, has apologized to the management of the National Youth Service Corps over the wrongful arrest, harassment and detention of three corps members serving in Suleja, Niger State.
The Emir, who received top management of the NYSC led by its Director General, Brig. Gen. Johnson Olawumi in his palace, decried the incident and promised to educate his subjects on how to treat strangers in his domain.
The monarch’s apology came on the heels of the harassment and detention of three corps members alleged to have resembled a gang of armed robbers that robbed a market by local vigilante group working in the area, before it was discovered to be a case of mistaken identity.
“It is not in our character to maltreat strangers and not even corps members, Suleja residents are peace loving people, the corps members are very dear to the emirate and we will also strive to protect them.
“Corps members should also establish good channel of communication with the NYSC leadership and among themselves so that they don’t suffer unnecessarily”, Ibrahim said.
Earlier, the DG, who said corps members are deployed round the country to contribute their quota to the socio-economic development of their host community, described the arrest of the three corps members as a case of mistaken identity.
While urging the corps members to see any challenge they encounter while serving as a stepping stone, he advised them to continue to respect the culture and tradition of their host communities and be security conscious at all times.
