Yar’Adua asks security agencies to protect corps members

By Taye Obateru, Jos
Concerned about the killing of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members in parts of the country, President Umar Yar’Ardua has directed security agencies to ensure adequate security for them.

NYSC Director General, Brig. Gen. Ismaila Tsiga who disclosed this during a visit to the orientation camp for corps members in Plateau State on Friday said similar directives had also gone to traditional rulers and religious leaders quoting the president as saying “nothing should happen to any corps member; they must be protected and secured.”

He said the NYSC had on its part introduced measures to ensure the security of corps members one of which is to withdraw them from any community or area where they are facing security threats.

Tsiga said corps members would not be posted to any such community or area until there is adequate assurance that their security would be guaranteed.

He advised corps members to conduct themselves well and to respect the culture and norms of wherever they find themselves so as not to provoke attacks on them.

He said security was a collective responsibility hence they need to be security conscious and should not flout instructions from their supervisors.

He stressed the need for them to learn new skills to enable them fit well into society after their service year.