Ensure safety of youth corpers or scrap NYSC scheme’, MURIC tells FG

By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

An Islamic human rights advocacy group, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has thrown its weight behind ongoing clamour for either the safety of youth corpers or scrapping of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme.

MURIC joined the advocacy in its 2026 Ramadan festival message issued on Thursday by the Executive Director/Founder, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

The advocacy group reminded the Federal Government of its major responsibility towards the citizenry, citing section 14(2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) which says: ‘The security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government”.

According to the MURIC’s salah message, “Our attention has been drawn to ongoing clamour for the safety of youth corpers during their service year.

“Many have called for the scrapping of the scheme if the safety of youth corpers cannot be guaranteed by the Federal Government (FG).

‎‎”Foremost among the advocates for the welfare of corpers is a group called The People’s Voice led by Dr. Alice Oludimu

‎”Their call is just, altruistic and patriotic. It is a struggle to stop the wastage of the lives of Nigerian youth, a call to accountability among Nigerian leaders and a wakeup call to value human life. We therefore consider it a civic duty to join the call.

‎‎”The facts staring Nigerians in the face are scary. As at 2023, 83 NYSC members have been abducted in ten years (i.e. between 2013 and 2023

‎‎”A corper, Musa Usman Abba from Gusau, Zamfara State, a Plant Science and Bio Technology graduate from Federal University, Gusau, who had been abducted since 9th January 2026 while traveling to Sokoto State to resume his National service, was eventually killed by bandits on Thursday, 5th March, 2026 even after his parents had struggled to pay a 10 million naira ransom.

‎‎”Another corper was released after paying 10 million naira ransom with 2 motorcycles in Zamfara. This happened in March 2026.

‎‎”In a December 2020 incident, kidnappers killed a corper and abducted others who were also corpers along Lokoja-Abuja highway.

‎‎”These sad incidents should not be happening to our youths. It is already assaulting their psyche and militarising them”, the statement said.

‎MURIC thus reminded the Federal government of its major responsibility towards the citizenry. Section 14(2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) says, ‘The security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government”.

‎‎The group further harped on the need for the Federal government to add a human face to the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme by taking every necessary step to make it a safe venture for our young ones.

The NYSC scheme, the group maintained must be transformed from a pact with death and captivity to a journey through life and hope.

Continuing, MURIC said, ‎‎”In a heart-rending development, an NYSC director made corpers sign that their parents would pay if they are kidnapped. Is this not alarming? When did NYSC become an agent of bandits?

The Islamic human rights organization therefore made the following demands:

*Full life insurance policy for every young Nigerian embarking on the NYSC scheme;

*Mandatory military escorts for corpers traveling to high risk zones and

*Prohibition of the abdication of responsibility to parents of corpers.

END