•Rues abduction of corps members 

By Adesina Wahab 

A group, the People’s Voice, led by Dr Alice Oludimu, is urging the federal government to take full responsibility for whatever happens to members of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, scheme during their service year, saying making people to sign indemnity bond to distance the government from any responsibility if anything happens to the corps members is uncalled for.

This is just as the group has described posting corps members to insecurity ravaged states as selling the corps members to bandits on a platter of gold.

The group, in a public message to the President, expressed sadness at the travails of a corps member, Musa Usman Abba, from Gusau, Zamfara State, who has been in kidnappers’ den since January 9, this year.

Abba, a graduate of Plant Science and Bio Technology from the Federal University, Gusau was kidnapped while going to Sokoto State to resume his national service.

His plight has been on the social media, with his family holding a burial ceremony for him on March 5, this year following their inability to pay the N10 million ransom being demanded by the abductors.

His abductors later made him to appear on another video to show that he is still alive though seriously in bad state.

The People’s Voice therefore condemned the nonchalant attitude of the government to such developments.

The group said: “What is more demonic is the systemic “disclaimer of life” being forced on these kids. They are being mandated to sign documents stating that if they are kidnapped outside their “comfort zones,” their families—not the Federal Government are responsible for the ransom. Parents are being forced to sign “death indemnity” forms, essentially agreeing that the state owes them nothing if their child returns in a body bag.

“The Reality: Zero Insurance: There is no functional life insurance or protection for these victims.

“State Abdication: The government “commands” them to distant, insecure lands but washes its hands off their safety the moment they board the bus.

“The Ransom Clause: By subtly or overtly suggesting families handle ransoms, the state has officially monetized the lives of our graduates for bandits.We need your voice to demand an immediate overhaul. We cannot keep “serving” a nation that refuses to preserve us.” 

It therefore called for mandatory military escorts for corps members; regional.posting that would ensure people don’t go far from their locations; comprehensive life insurance for corps members and the abolition of the ransom clause in their posting letters.