The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has described the arrest of three corps members by men of the Nigeria Police, on allegation of robbing a shop owner in Suleja, Niger State, as case of mistaken identity.
In respect of this, it said two of the accused corps members have been released while it is working on securing the release of the third corps member.
The NYSC Director of Public Relations, Mrs. Bose Aderibigbe, while making clarifications on the case, stated that their release was secured as a result of interventions from the Niger State government through the office of the Secretary to the Government and the Ministry of Youth Development.
In a statement by the NYSC, Aderibigbe stated: “Without prejudice to the investigative duties of the appropriate law enforcement agency, we have it on good authority that preliminary findings had shown that the accusation against the trio was based only on circumstantial evidence.”
The NYSC, however, assured the public, particularly parents and guardians of corps members that no single corps member will be allowed to suffer unduly, especially over cases of mistaken identity during the service year.
She stated that the provisions of the NYSC Bye-Laws are very clear on the involvement of corps members in criminal acts, though very unlikely, as their participation in the scheme does not confer immunity from prosecution.
“We have, therefore, continued to sensitise members of the service corps on the need to be law-abiding and to shun acts capable of soiling the image of the scheme and their families,” the statement read.
The scheme further urged corps members serving in Suleja to go about their duties without fear of molestation, saying, “we have already intensified liaison with the Army, Police and other security agencies in the area as well as the Suleja Emirate Council who have all renewed their commitment to the protection of all corps members in the area.” [myad]
