“My Father Doesn’t Have ₦50 Million  Pay for Ransom” – Owerri Graduate Says No to Kano NYSC Posting Over Security Fears

“My Father Doesn’t Have ₦50 Million  Pay for Ransom” – Owerri Graduate Says No to Kano NYSC Posting Over Security Fears.

A prospective corps member has ignited debate on social media after making it clear she would not report for the mandatory national youth service programme following her deployment to Kano State.

The young lady, who resides in Owerri, Imo State, shared her frustration in a video that has since gone viral. She expressed surprise that the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) would post her to the north when she expected a state closer to home.

“NYSC called me but I won’t be going,” she said in the video. “Tell me why you’re posting me to Kano state out of all the 36 states. I’m staying in Owerri, you’re taking me to Kano with the whole insecurity. Not even a close by state. Did my father say he has ₦50 million naira for ransom?”

The lady’s reaction reflects a broader concern among many young graduates who view postings to certain parts of the country with increasing anxiety. What was once a programme designed to foster national unity has become a source of worry for families across Nigeria.

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Statistics show that nearly eight out of ten prospective corps members now prefer postings to urban centres like Lagos and Abuja, while others try to avoid deployment to northern states altogether. The reasons are not difficult to understand – fears over insecurity, long-distance travel on dangerous highways, and the possibility of abduction have made many graduates think twice about accepting their postings.

The NYSC was established in 1973 after the civil war to promote unity and cultural integration among Nigeria’s diverse ethnic groups. At the time, the country was more peaceful, and the risks of posting young graduates to unfamiliar territories were far lower than they are today.

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But the situation has changed drastically. Incidents of kidnapping, banditry and violent attacks have become more common in several parts of the country. Corps members travelling long distances to orientation camps have been particularly vulnerable to these threats.

Between 2014 and 2023, reports indicate that over 60 corps members were kidnapped in various incidents across the country. Some were abducted in groups while travelling to orientation camps, with families forced to negotiate ransom payments for their release.

The recent outcry has added to growing calls for the government to review the NYSC deployment system. Some stakeholders have suggested that corps members should be posted within their geopolitical zones to reduce risks associated with long-distance travel through insecure areas.

The National Association of Seadogs (NAS) recently called for an immediate ban on postings to states considered high-risk, including Zamfara, Katsina, Kaduna, Sokoto, Borno, and Niger. The group argued that national unity should not come at the cost of the lives of young graduates.

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“The present security realities across the country demand an urgent reassessment of how the scheme operates, particularly about the safety of corps members,” said NAS Captain Joseph Oteri.

For many families, the anxiety starts the moment their child receives a posting letter. Parents worry about the journey to orientation camps, the safety of the locations, and the possibility of abduction.

One widow whose son was posted to Katsina State was so desperate for a relocation that she paid ₦100,000 to an online scammer who promised to help change the posting. The scam failed, but she eventually got help from a good Samaritan who arranged for her son to serve in Nasarawa State instead.

The NYSC remains a pathway for over 450,000 graduates mobilised annually across the country. For many, the certificate is still a requirement for employment in both public and private sectors.

But with security concerns growing, the question many are asking is how long the current system can continue without meaningful changes. The scheme was designed for a different Nigeria – one where young graduates could travel across the country without worrying about being kidnapped or harmed.

The young lady from Owerri may have been more vocal than most, but she is not alone in her fears. As one commentator put it, the choice is becoming increasingly difficult: “serve the fatherland” or protect yourself in a country where safety cannot be guaranteed.

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