By Samuel Oyadongha
Tears flowed freely Wednesday at the lying-in-state of late Aremu Oluwasegun Steven, one of the two National Youth Service Corps members who died in a tragic boat mishap last Friday along the Nembe waterways in the Bayelsa State East senatorial district.

Meanwhile the management of the National Youth Service Corps in the state Wednesday issued fresh warning that any corps members travelling without authorization and life jacket in the coastal area risk being slammed an extension of service.

Virtually all the corps members serving in the upland areas of the state including relations of the late Aremu Oluwasegun Steven converged on Yenagoa Local Government Council Hall in the heart of the state capital to pay their last respect to their fallen colleague and son, an indigene of Kogi State, fondly called “Senator” by his peers.

The geology graduate of the University of Ilorin died alongside with his colleague identified as Adamu Isa Barau an indigene of Bauchi State who had since been buried in line with Islamic injunction by the muslim community in the state.

The state NYSC Coordinator Mrs. Nnenna Ukoha, who was clad in black attire and a beret, broke down in tears on seeing the brown casket of the deceased draped in the NYSC colour.

Also, the representative of the state governor, colleagues of the deceased corps member, his uncle, Mr. David Aremu and staff of the NYSC all struggled to control their emotion at the solemn service.

Speaking at the lying in state service, the state NYSC Public Relations Officer, Mr. Pius Iyamah who spoke on behalf of the state Coordinator, Mrs. Nnenna Ukoha who was yet to recover from the shocking incident warned that henceforth it would be a criminal offence for corps members and staff to embark on journey without authorisation and putting on a life jacket while on the waterways.

He noted with sadness that the cold hand of death that snatched away the two corps members could have been averted if they had put on their life jacket like their two surviving female colleagues.

The hall was moved to tears when he narrated how one of the deceased corps member had left home putting on his jacket on the fateful day on his way to Nembe jetty only to rush back and put same off before embarking on the ill-fated trip which turned out to be the last for the two colleagues fondly called “Senators” by their peers.

Describing the deceased corps members as dedicated youths who met their untimely death last Friday he recalled that their Zonal Inspector had at a meeting warned all corps members against traveling without their life jacket.

In his exhortation at the funeral service, Pastor Friday Azubuike of the Evangelistic Church of West Africa (ECWA) lamented the death of the Corpers whom he described as potential leaders of the country.

Reading from the books of First Thessalonians’ 4 verse 13-18 and Hebrew 9-27 the cleric who called on Christians to prepared for the judgment day also admonished them to embrace Christ and shun indecent lives so as to inherent the kingdom of God.

In his remark, Senior Special Assistant on Corps Members Affairs to the Bayelsa Governor, Mr. Lawrence Ikati expressed sadness over the tragic incident and pleaded with the corps members to always seek permission before travelling out of their area of primary assignment as ensure that they are always with their life jacket when travelling on water.

Ikati who on behalf of the state government condoled with the NYSC and families of the deceased corps members said training a child up to the level of serving is a life investment which no parents would wish to lose.

In his goodwill message, the father of the Steven, Mr. Tunde Aremu who was represented by his younger brother David Aremu thanked the state government and the NYSC for assisting in the recovery of the corpse of his son and his interment.

He however noted with regret the pain his son must have gone through in the water before his death.

The deceased Steven was later interred across the Yenagoa river amidst wailing from relations, corps members and officials of the NYSC.