Human rights lawyer Festus has threatened to institute legal proceedings against the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) over its continued practice of posting corps members to states outside their states of residence, citing growing insecurity across the country.
Key Highlights:
Ogun argued that the policy exposes young graduates to significant security risks and could amount to a violation of their constitutional right to life as guaranteed under Section 33 of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution.
The lawyer, who is the Senior Partner at FO Legal, made his position known in a statement shared on social media, where he expressed concern over the increasing cases of kidnappings, abductions and attacks affecting corps members and prospective corps members travelling across the country.
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According to him, compelling graduates to travel through dangerous routes to unfamiliar states for national service places them in harm’s way at a time when insecurity remains a major challenge nationwide.
“It is unconstitutional for NYSC to continue dispatching young people on a journey of no return,” Ogun stated.
“With the spate of insecurity in every corner of Nigeria, posting corps members to states other than their states of residence is tantamount to signing their death warrants while still alive.”
He disclosed that he may soon approach a court of competent jurisdiction to challenge what he described as a continuous violation of the rights of corps members.
Ogun said his proposed lawsuit would document cases of deaths, kidnappings and abductions involving corps members, arguing that many of the incidents could have been avoided.
The legal practitioner on Thursday further called for a suspension of the NYSC scheme until adequate security measures are put in place across the country.
His comments come against the backdrop of several high-profile abduction cases involving serving and prospective corps members in recent years.
Among them is the case of a prospective corps member, Lateefah Binuyo, a Lagos resident who was kidnapped while travelling through Kogi State on her way to an orientation camp in Taraba State. She later regained her freedom after spending 10 days in captivity.
Another case involved Abba Musa Usman, who was abducted by suspected bandits in January while travelling from Gusau in Zamfara State to Sokoto State. He was released after spending approximately three months in captivity.
Ogun, who noted that he had previously served under the NYSC programme, said his campaign is driven by concerns for the safety of future participants rather than personal interests.
“This fight is more about the future of this country and the sanctity of human life,” he said.
The lawyer’s remarks have reignited debate over the relevance and safety of interstate postings under the NYSC scheme, with many Nigerians increasingly questioning whether graduates should continue to be deployed to regions facing significant security threats.
As concerns over kidnapping and violent crime persist across several parts of the country, pressure is mounting on authorities to review policies affecting the movement and safety of young Nigerians participating in the national service programme.
