PANIC!!!! Corps members begin redeployment out of Benue State

A  Corp member currently serving in Benue State and posted to a primary school as a teacher in a village outside Makurdi, the capital city, told SUNDAY PUNCH that she stayed indoors most of the time.

The Osun State indigene explained that the headmaster of the school of her primary assignment advised her to stay at home following the dusk-to-dawn curfew imposed on the state by the government.

She said, “I want redeployment as soon as possible. I am scared and my mom is really not happy. I know that my life is in danger but I put my trust in God.”

Tears freely flowed down the cheeks of Mrs. Busola Adenuga, the mother of Kunle, a 21-year-old graduate of Covenant University, Ota in Ogun State, as she expressed her fears about her son’s safety in Benue State where he has been posted to for his one year mandatory service.

Adenuga appealed to the National Assembly to declare Benue, Taraba and Nasarawa states as security risks for now.

She said, “I want my son to be redeployed to any of the South-West states that are relatively peaceful at the moment.”

Her son, Kunle, also told SUNDAY PUNCH on Friday that fears enveloped him throughout his eight-hour journey from Lagos to Kogi State for the orientation camp.

He added, “The NYSC authorities should just redeploy us to our preferred states instead of endangering our lives in volatile states all in the name of serving our fatherland.

“Our camp in Kogi State is a bit secure. What will happen to us after the camp?”

Frank Okoye, whose parents live in Abuja, is a corps member posted to Benue State but currently in the NYSC camp in Kogi State.

He faulted the decision of the NYSC to post young Nigerians to volatile states despite the constant attacks by herdsmen.

He said, “I feel highly traumatised at the moment. When I saw the call-up letter, I was really surprised that the NYSC could still post people to states that have security issues.

“I have not been to that place before. So, posting me to a place where they are killing people is like putting our lives at risk and I am not really happy. My plan is to process my redeployment to my state of residence which is the FCT after the orientation.”

Lawal Adewale, an Osun State-born corps member serving at the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, the Benue State capital, lamented the high level insecurity in the state, noting however that security agents were putting the situation under control.

“I cannot seek redeployment now because I will complete my service in April. My only fear is the plight of my colleagues who are serving in the rural communities. In fact, the NYSC should not post any corps member to Benue at this moment.

“My parents are not comfortable with my resolve to stay till the end of my service year here but I have assured them that I will be fine since the situation has attracted the attention of the Federal Government,” Adewale stated.

Source: (Punch Newspaper )