NYSC speaks on killing of corps members in Bayelsa

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) on Tuesday expressed concern over the killing of two corps members in Swali, Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa.

The Director-General of the corps, Maj.-Gen. Suleiman Kazaure, expressed the concern during his tour of 2019 Batch ‘A’ Orientation Camp in Kaiama, Kolokumo/Opokuma Local Government Area of the state.

A gang of hoodlums had on March 21 invaded a corps members’ residence along School Road, Swali, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital, shooting three members of the NYSC and leaving several injured.

Of the three corps members, two were confirmed dead, while one who was critically injured was taken to one of the hospitals in the city for treatment.

The police identified one of the dead NYSC members as Popoola Oluwatobi Olamide, a 30-year old graduate of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) and an indigene of Oyo State, while the rest were George Onokpoma, now deceased, and Anthony Gbenga Dada, who survived.

The suspected cultists, numbering about six were said to have arrived the corps’ members’ residence at about 10.30 p.m and immediately started shooting into the lodge repeatedly with cries of anguish from within the residence.

The deceased corps members, it was gathered, were attached to a private school close to their residence and were marking some examination scripts when the hoodlums invaded their home.

Kazaure said that the death of the two corps members constituted a great loss to the NYSC family.

He, therefore, urged the Bayelsa governor, Seriake Dickson, to ensure the safety of corps members serving in the state.

“I have come to see the 2019 Batch ‘A’ corps members in the camp and to assess some of the facilities in the camp, but our major concern here is the safety of these young people.

“I am also very concerned about the incident that happened two weeks ago, where two corps members were killed.

“We are working with other security agencies to ensure their safety during their primary assignments.

“There is the need for the governor to do the needful in terms of security of the corps members.

“The corps members are national assets on national assignment. And if nothing is done by the state government, we will withdraw corps members from serving in Bayelsa state,” Kazaure stated.

Mrs Loto Bolade, NYSC Coordinator in the state, said that the 2019 Batch ‘A’ Orientation course registered 1,501 corps members for the scheme.