ABUJA – The National Association of Seadogs (Pyrates Confraternity) has called for an immediate and far-reaching overhaul of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) deployment system, urging authorities to halt the posting of corps members to states plagued by persistent insecurity.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday, the association’s Cap’n, Dr Joseph Oteri, warned that Nigeria’s worsening security situation now poses a direct and growing threat to young graduates participating in the scheme.
He said current realities across the country demand an urgent reassessment of NYSC operations, particularly with regard to the safety of corps members.
“The present security realities across the country demand an urgent reassessment of how the scheme operates, particularly about the safety of corps members,” Oteri stated.
While acknowledging that the NYSC, established in 1973 after the civil war, has played a vital role in fostering national unity, Oteri stressed that the scheme must not expose participants to life-threatening risks.
“National unity should never come at the cost of the lives and safety of Nigeria’s young graduates,” he said.
The group pointed to rising cases of kidnapping, banditry and violent attacks across several parts of the country, noting that corps members travelling long distances for orientation and primary assignments have become increasingly vulnerable.
“Incidents of kidnapping for ransom, banditry, and violent assaults on highways have become more widespread; young graduates are increasingly vulnerable to such threats,” he added.
The association cited recent and past incidents, including the abduction of a prospective corps member travelling to Sokoto, as well as earlier attacks involving corps members in Zamfara and the Federal Capital Territory, describing them as part of a disturbing pattern over the past decade.
According to NAS, corps members have repeatedly faced kidnappings, violent attacks and fatal road accidents linked to their deployment across the country.
It also dismissed viral claims suggesting that families of kidnapped corps members are required to pay ransom, noting that no official NYSC policy supports such assertions.
Despite acknowledging the scheme’s contributions to national development, the group insisted that reforms are long overdue.
“The safety of corps members must be treated as a national priority,” Oteri said.
NAS specifically called for an outright ban on postings to high-risk states, naming Zamfara, Katsina, Kaduna, Sokoto, Borno and Niger as areas where frequent attacks have made travel particularly dangerous.
“Corps members should no longer be posted to states classified as high-risk due to persistent banditry and kidnapping,” he declared.
The association further recommended the integration of security risk assessments into deployment decisions, provision for corps members to serve closer to safer regions, improved organised travel arrangements, expanded insurance coverage, and the establishment of rapid emergency response systems.
It maintained, however, that while the NYSC remains a critical national institution, it must evolve to reflect present-day security realities.
