ON 10 May 2011, Nigeria was drenched in emotion as President Goodluck Jonathan paid compensation of N5 million each to families of 10 members of the National Youth Service Corps killed in election-related incidents.

More importantly the President promised to end the growing culture of impunity. “I want to assure you that those found culpable will be brought to justice,” he told the gathering where he said he was setting up a 22-man fact-finding committee on the deaths.

The dead corps members were Okpokiri Obinna (Abia), Adewunmi Seun Paul (Ekiti), Ukeoma Ikechukwu Chibuzor, Ukazeoma Anslem Chukwu, Anyanwu Agnes (Imo); Dedi Olawale Tosin, Akuyi Ibrahim Sule (Kogi); Gbenjo Ebenezer Ayotunde, Adeyi Kehinde Jelil (Osun); and Adowe Elliot (Bayelsa).

Protests about deploying NYSC members to States where killings seem to target them have continued, especially with the current postings that seemed not to have considered the safety of NYSC members. The authorities should redeploy those who can be at risk.

The report of the 22-man committee, as it affects the NYSC members, is not public. Nobody has been punished for the death of the 10. Other deaths during the 2008 Jos riots and the 2009 murder of Miss Grace Ushang in Borno State preceded the 2011 killings. Again nobody was punished.

Former Director-General of NYSC, Brigadier-General Maharazu Ismaila Tsiga had hinted in 2010 that corps members would not be posted to States with poor security. The following year 10 of them lost their lives in States notorious for security lapses.

We support the NYSC scheme for the potentials it still holds for applying the zeal and commitment of the youth to the development of the country. However, these cannot be at the risk of participants’ lives.

NYSC members are usually new to their environment. They are more prone to danger in riot situations where they depend on others – some of who become their killers – for safety.

While it is impossible to establish special protection for NYSC members, the least the authorities can do is to keep them out of harm’s way by not posting them to States with standing records of riots. Some States are already outstanding in this regard.

Options are available to the NYSC and it is not late for it to explore them. Participants could be allowed to choose States for their service, as long as it is not their State of origin. Participants who decide to serve in the risky States should be encouraged, but they would have made the choice.

Compulsory deployment of NYSC members to States where they are not safe does not make sense. The President admitted N5 million could not pay for life in 2011 and definitely not in 2012.