A Call for Strategic Posting: NYSC Must Prioritize the Safety of Young Graduates -By Muhammad Bashir Abdulhafiz

I write not just as a prospective corps member, but as a young Nigerian who still believes deeply in the dream of a united nation. I write with hope but also with a heavy heart. The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) remains one of the few institutions that truly binds us together, giving us a shared identity beyond tribe and religion. For decades, it has fostered unity, friendship, and understanding among young Nigerians from all walks of life.

But today, that dream feels fragile.

Across parts of the country especially in the North insecurity has turned what should be a journey of service into a journey of fear. The threats are no longer distant stories; they are real, immediate, and painfully close. Terrorists, bandits, and kidnappers have made travel and rural postings increasingly dangerous, and young graduates are paying the price.

The NYSC has always been more than a program. It is a symbol of unity a place where a Yoruba graduate shares meals with an Igbo brother, and a Hausa brother becomes family. It is where lifelong friendships are formed, cultures are exchanged, and even marriages begin. It represents the Nigeria we all want to believe in.

I am one of those young Nigerians who has looked forward to wearing the white vest and green khaki. I want to serve. I want to contribute. But I am afraid and that fear is not imagined. It is shaped by the stories, the headlines, and the lived experiences of corps members who have been abducted, brutalized, or worse, simply for answering the call to serve.

We cannot ignore what has been happening.

In recent years, corps members traveling to orientation camps or their Places of Primary Assignment (PPA) have been kidnapped along major routes. Some have spent months in captivity. Some never made it back home. Others returned traumatized, their dreams interrupted by experiences no young graduate should ever endure.

The story of Abba a corps member abducted in Kaduna and seen in a viral video being tortured still lingers painfully in our minds. His only crime was choosing to serve his country. Then there is Binuyo Lateefah, a young graduate kidnapped while on her way to orientation camp. Her story, like many others, reflects a growing pattern that we can no longer treat as isolated incidents.

These are not just statistics. They are sons and daughters of ordinary Nigerians children of civil servants, traders, and farmers. They are the future leaders of this country.

Even beyond travel, many corps members posted to remote areas face daily fear. Some are sent to communities that are difficult to access, with little or no security presence. In such places, they become easy targets. The reality is harsh: what was once a service year has, for some, become a survival year.

Sir, this is why I appeal respectfully but urgently to the leadership of the NYSC, particularly the Director-General, Brigadier General Olakunle Oluseye Nafiu.

We are not asking to avoid certain regions out of prejudice. Many of us are willing to serve anywhere in Nigeria. What we ask for is simple: thoughtful, strategic decisions that prioritize safety.

This can begin with practical steps.

Orientation camps should be located in secure environments, not in areas vulnerable to attacks or close to forests known for bandit activity. If necessary, camps can be relocated temporarily to safer grounds, including military or police facilities.

Posting decisions should also be more deliberate. No corps member should be sent to a location that is clearly unsafe or difficult to access. Areas identified as high-risk by security agencies should be avoided until they are genuinely secure.

Transportation is another critical issue. Corps members traveling long distances should not be left to navigate dangerous routes alone. Organized travel arrangements with security escorts, especially along known high-risk corridors, could significantly reduce exposure to danger.

At a time like this, it is important to acknowledge a difficult truth: not every part of the country is currently safe for deployment. Recognizing this is not weakness it is responsibility. The idea of national spread is noble, but it should not come at the cost of young lives.

Beyond the NYSC, this appeal extends to those in authority.

State governments must take responsibility for the safety of corps members within their territories. If a state cannot guarantee security, it should openly request a temporary suspension of postings until conditions improve. Protecting lives must come before pride.

Security agencies must treat attacks on corps members with urgency and seriousness. There should be dedicated efforts to prevent such incidents and respond swiftly when they occur.

At the federal level, stronger policies and protections are needed. Kidnapping, especially involving corps members, should attract severe consequences. Systems must also be put in place to support quick rescue operations without delay.

Let me be clear: young Nigerians are not afraid of challenges. We are ready to serve in rural communities, teach in underserved schools, and contribute wherever we are needed. But we are not trained for combat. We are not equipped to face violence. The only protection we have is the assurance that our country will keep us safe and that assurance must mean something.

We have mourned enough. We have seen too many disturbing videos, heard too many painful stories, and witnessed too many families broken by loss.

This is a moment for action.

Brigadier General Olakunle Oluseye Nafiu, history will remember the decisions made at times like this. You have the opportunity to make changes that will save lives and restore confidence in the system. By prioritizing safety, reviewing posting strategies, and working closely with security agencies, you can ensure that the NYSC remains a symbol of unity not a source of fear.

We want to serve. We believe in Nigeria. But above all, we want to return home alive.

God bless the NYSC.

God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.