Fellow Nigerians,
This is especially directed to corps members undergoing their service year in Rivers State. Please o, be careful.
I passed out about a month ago, and while we were instructed in camp not to grant interviews as corps members, i can proudly(with gratitude to God) say i have served and completed my time. I was posted to the Ahoada region, and though i enjoyed my time there interacting with members of the community and all, i must announce that the area is not safe!

During my time there, there were three different confirmed cases of kidnapping in near-by communities between February-June 2013. In each of those three cases, we learnt that the assailants abducted the corps members from the "corpers" lodge. A total of 5 corps members were taken (3 girls, 2 boys). Only the victims can narrate the details of what happened to them (may the Almighty grant them full recovery and restoration). I also heard through the great vine that a ransom was requested in each of the three cases, and confirmed from reliable sources that it was the parents of the victims that provided the money used in rescuing their children in at least two of the three cases.

This rampage is not peculiar to Ahoada-East or Ahoada-West L.G.A. alone. I learned from a third party who was speaking to a security official that six (6) corps members were kidnapped from near-by Elele LGA, and that as many as eleven (11) were kidnapped in one swoop from the corpers lodge somewhere in Emohua LGA, all in Rivers State . In yesterday's The Nation, it was mentioned that three (3) corps members were kidnapped from Ogonokom in Abua/Odual LGA, also in Rivers.

In those 3 kidnap cases in the Ahoada region earlier mentioned, it was gathered that all the victims were eventually released after collection of ransom. With the spate of kidnappings, the corps members had asked the Local Government inspector in Ahoada East to take a leave/break until it was considered safe to return; but they were told that such a directive would have to come from the higher-ups in the NYSC, insinuating NYSC head-quarters Abuja. Nairalanders, if you are connected to these people, please inform them.

The Ahoada East L.I had received subsequent phone calls from the abductors warning that they will continue to take more corps members. The last i heard from my erstwhile colleagues was that they were being re-posted to other nearby LGAs, some of which are dealing with or have dealt with kidnap cases in recent times. This solution does not guarantee safety to me. The attention of the various security agencies have been brought to the matter, and we are under the impression that they are doing what they can.
The purpose and mission of the NYSC scheme in the affected regions will continue to be a failure as long as the security of corps members remains in danger. Something needs to be done at the local, state or federal level. Government needs to protect its people, especially those who are serving the nation. What impression are these young leaders expected to have of their country?

My brother, there is no state crime does not exist, some are reported and some are not. Just so you know places with no news of crime could be haven for crime commiters.
The good thing you have done is you created awareness and we hope corp members posted to any part of Rivers state will heed to your advice. As for the lazy policemen in Rivers, may God punish you, sometimes I wonder the need of this NYSC of a thing if security of corpers is not guaranteed. Smdh!