NYSC Finally Admits Pamphlets Contain Advice On Ransom Payment, Begins Probe

In what seems to be a daring volte-face, the authorities on the Nationwide Youth Service Corps (NYSC) have admitted that copies of its pamphlets containing safety suggestions for workers and corps members include the “embarrassing” clause that advises corps members to arrange for ransom cost if kidnapped.

The organisation, nevertheless, famous that it realised that totally different copies of the pamphlets are in circulation with some containing the clause and others not.

The NYSC spokesperson, Adenike Adeyemi, in a terse message to PRESSINFORMANT on Friday noted that the organisation was already investigating the scenario.

The response adopted this newspaper’s insistence that copies in its possession include the clause, and queries the rationale behind the hurried rebuttal earlier issued by the organisation on the matter.

Mrs Adeyemi, in a brief response, merely wrote; “We realised totally different copies are in circulation. We’re investigating.”

Backstory
On Thursday, the web page containing the recommendation for the corps and workers on reaching out to the household and buddies when plying such routes it described as “excessive danger” had flooded the social media.

The handbook, which is titled; “Safety Consciousness and Training Handbook For Corps Members and Workers,” on its web page 56, suggested each corps members and (and workers) travelling on “high-risk” roads to alert their “relations, buddies and colleagues to have somebody available to repay the ransom that might be demanded” in case they’re kidnapped.

The doc lists such roads to incorporate “Abuja-Kaduna, Abuja-Lokoja-Okene, or Aba-Port Harcourt” roads.

The doc is produced by Watchcon Safety Consultancy Companies – a non-public safety outfit, in collaboration with the headquarters of the Nationwide Youths Service Corps.

Extra suggestions
The pamphlet, on web page 57, advises each the workers and corps members on how you can conduct themselves when kidnapped, saying; “Don’t antagonise your captors, be well mannered and function with cheap regards.”

It additionally advises the corps members and its workers to point out cheap cooperation to the abductors, and that they need to “set up private relationship along with your abductors as quickly as attainable.”

It additional added; “The abductors might ask for contact individuals, don’t point out your workplace, however your shut buddies and oldsters. They are going to attain them to barter in your launch.

“Advise your folks concerned within the negotiations, they need to be pleasant with the captors.
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“Take no danger by trying to flee,” even because it urges abductees to not try to be a hero making making efforts to flee.

“Make no assertion to the media after your launch with out official clearance however share your expertise with shut associates,” it additional counsels.

Rebuttal
However in its assertion issued earlier on the matter, a replica of which it made accessible to PRESSINFORMANT on Friday, NYSC described the clause in circulation because the handiwork of mischief-makers.

The reads partly; “The eye of Administration of the Nationwide Youth Sevice Corps has been drawn to a faux launch making the rounds on the social media to the impact that Corps Members travelling on ” excessive danger roads” ought to alert their households, buddies and colleagues to be able to have any person to repay the ransom that might be demanded within the occasion of being kidnapped.

“Administration needs to emphatically state that the clause mischievously quoted just isn’t embedded in NYSC Safety Suggestions pamphlet which was put collectively by a extremely revered retired safety professional.

“Administration needs to attraction to most people to all the time make clear points with the Scheme.”

The organisation, subsequently, advises Nigerians to all the time confirm issues earlier than sharing them on social media, saying it “has workplaces in all of the states of the federation, in addition to the 774 Native Authorities Areas within the nation for enquiries.”

“Please, be cautious of falling prey to the antics of mischief makers out to ridicule the Scheme,” it added.

Backlash
Following the invention of the clause, Nigerians have flooded the social media together with Twitter, which was banned by the Nigerian authorities, to criticise the doc.

Many additionally described the rebuttal by the organisation as an “open lie”, saying they had been shocked {that a} public organisation can be so daring to proceed its defence within the face of clear proof on the contrary.