Rising insecurity fuels NYSC redeployment requests

The National Youth Service Corps, a compulsory one-year service that ought to be an exciting experience for fresh Nigerian graduates, has become overshadowed by fear, as rising insecurity across the country now shapes how prospective corps members approach NYSC mobilisation, AYOOLA OLASUPO reports

On a Monday evening in Lagos State, a prospective corps member, Oluwakemisola (surname withheld), sat glued to her phone, refreshing the National Youth Service Corps portal every minute.

Like many other thousands of fresh graduates awaiting mobilisation, she was eager to begin the one-year mandatory programme, which, for many decades, has symbolised patriotism, national integration, and the transition into adulthood.

As she awaited mobilisation for the scheme, she expressed hope of being deployed in the next batch of Batch B Stream 2 of 2026.

But unlike previous generations of fresh graduates who anxiously waited to discover where they would serve, Oluwakemisola’s excitement was overshadowed by the fear of which state she would eventually be posted to and her personal safety.

Her feelings were mixed with the deep concern over the insecurity in the country, and her anxiety was layered with anxiety about what lies ahead.

“I’m very scared of the state I will be posted to because the security situation in the country is not good at all. I’m scared of being kidnapped, and we don’t have any money to pay as ransom,” Oluwakemisola said.

For the fresh polytechnic graduate, fear is already shaping how she views the geography of national service, which was designed to promote national integration by posting graduates across different parts of the country.

She revealed her intention to redeploy even if it will require additional arrangements, including payments.

“There are states I would not want to be posted to, like Nasarawa, Cross River, and other ones that are very far from where I’m based. I would prefer to stay closer to Lagos State. I don’t think I would want to go very far at all.

“If NYSC eventually posts me to a state that is not my choice, I would definitely consider redeployment. I would try to sort it out and look for someone legitimate to help me. If it doesn’t work, I don’t think I will be able to manage it. I would rather stay at home,” she stated.

She added that her parents, worried about the country’s security situation, do not want her travelling to a distant state.

She said, “I am also making plans for direct posting. I would prefer to do it before going to camp. If it does not work and I am posted to a state I did not plan for, I would rather stay at home. My parents don’t even want me to travel far from home for security reasons. They prefer I stay close to home. That is our discussion.

“With the current situation, I think insecurity will reduce the idea of exploring different states during NYSC. Instead of focusing on enjoyment or experience, people will focus more on safety. It is better to protect your life than to risk it for something unnecessary.

“For now, I think NYSC should be reconsidered. Some people come from very difficult backgrounds, and not everyone is in a safe position to be moved around the country. In my opinion, the system has become more political than developmental.”

‘I don’t feel safe serving Nigeria’

A graduate of the Obafemi Awolowo University, who identified himself simply as Abayomi, for security reasons, said he deliberately opted out of the NYSC scheme because of growing insecurity and fears over his personal safety.

He explained that the decision was not driven by concerns about kidnappings and the dangers associated with traveling long distances to unfamiliar states.

“I kept asking myself why I should be sent to a place I don’t know, travelling long distances, just to prove national unity, when I don’t feel safe doing it. I watched what has been happening over the years about kidnappings, attacks on travellers, and corps members being kidnapped or attacked. It got to a point where I felt the risk was not worth it.

“Even the idea of being on the road for hours, moving from one state to another, made me uncomfortable, so I chose not to participate at all,” he said.

In the absence of stronger guarantees for the protection of corps members, Abayomi said he chose to pursue his personal and professional development through other means.

“People say NYSC is part of national service and development, and I understand that. But in my case, I will prioritise my safety. If the system cannot guarantee the security of corps members, I don’t think anyone should be compelled to participate. I would rather build my life differently than take that risk,” he noted.

Across Nigeria, a growing number of fresh graduates are approaching the NYSC mobilisation process with apprehension rather than anticipation, as insecurity continues to spread across different parts of the country.

The fear of kidnapping, banditry, communal violence, attacks on travellers, and other security threats is increasingly shaping how young Nigerians view the once-celebrated national service scheme.

For many families, receiving a call-up letter no longer symbolises adventure or opportunity. Instead, it sparks difficult conversations about safety, emergency plans, and whether to pursue redeployment to a perceived safer state.

When NYSC evokes anxiety

For Olabisi, a Mass Communication graduate awaiting the NYSC mobilisation, the prospect of national service now evokes anxiety rather than excitement.

She said she already feels nervous about the possibility of being posted to an unfamiliar and unsafe state.

Speaking with Sunday PUNCH, she disclosed that she intended to seek redeployment if assigned to any state outside Lagos, Ogun, or Oyo, particularly those she considers unsafe.

Olabisi said, “When I eventually get mobilised, and my call-up letter comes out, I know I will be nervous. The main reason is the security situation in the country. I am particularly worried about being posted to a state I have never been to before, especially somewhere very far from home. The distance itself is not the problem; it is the insecurity associated with travelling and living in unfamiliar places.

“Ordinarily, NYSC should be an opportunity to explore different parts of Nigeria. I have never had the chance to travel to many states before, so it should be exciting. But because of insecurity, I am afraid of being posted to certain places. I would rather be sent somewhere that I consider safe. If I am posted to a state that is not my choice, I will seek redeployment.”

Over the years, several incidents involving corps members have highlighted the risks associated with serving far from homes.

Reports of attacks on highways, kidnappings of travellers, violent conflicts in host communities, and other security challenges have fuelled growing concerns among prospective corps members and their families.

As a result, many graduates now admit that their greatest concern is no longer where they will gain experience or contribute to national development, but whether they will return home safely at the end of their service year.

‘Why I redeployed’

An NYSC member currently serving in Akwa Ibom State, Israel Emmanuel (not his real name), said he got redeployed to a state he considered safer and closer to home.

The Abia State indigene explained that what he knew about the security challenges in some northern states influenced his decision to seek redeployment to where he currently serves at.

Emmanuel said, “Before the call-up letter came out, there were states I was afraid of being posted to, especially in the North, because of the stories I had heard about insecurity. I also met some people who shared experiences about kidnappings and attacks in some areas. Because of that, I wanted to avoid those places.”

He added that his own parents were more comfortable with his eventual posting because they had witnessed the anxiety experienced by his cousin’s family after he was deployed to Abuja.

According to Emmanuel, the fear was so intense that his cousin’s parents insisted he travel by air, instead of by road.

 A scheme for unity

The National Youth Service Corps was established in May 1973 in the aftermath of the Nigerian Civil War. Through Decree No.24 of 1973, the administration of former Head of State, Yakubu Gowon, introduced the scheme as part of efforts to promote reconciliation, rebuild national unity, and foster a shared identity among young Nigerians.

The programme was designed to encourage graduates to serve in states outside their regions of origin, enabling them to interact with people from different ethnic, cultural, and religious backgrounds.

The aim was to expose young Nigerians to other parts of the country, strengthen national integration, promote mutual understanding, and reduce divisions among the country’s diverse populations.

In recent years, however, growing concerns over insecurity and the safety of corps members have sparked fresh debates about the scheme’s future and effectiveness.

A recent poll conducted by Sunday PUNCH and shared with a particular WhatsApp group of corps members showed that 16 respondents, representing 80 per cent of the 20 participants, said fear of insecurity influenced their deployment to their current states of service.

The remaining four respondents cited distance and personal reasons as the factors that influenced their redeployments. 

Corps members becoming endangered

Beyond individual testimonies, a review of available data on attacks, kidnappings, disappearances, and survey findings highlights growing concerns about the safety of thousands of corps members who are deployed for the one-year scheme every year.

A 2023 report by the Foundation for Investigative Journalism revealed that between 2013 and 2023, no fewer than 80 corps members were abducted, with Rivers State accounting for half of the reported cases.

Findings by our correspondent also showed that between 2015 and 2026, several violent incidents involving corps members were recorded across the country.

Some of the attacks occurred on highways, in rural communities, and during election-related assignments.

Available reports indicate that more than 20 corps members lost their lives in various incidents over the period.

In May 2026, for instance, suspected terrorists killed four people, including a corps member, along the Jikamshi–Funtua road in Katsina State after armed bandits ambushed travellers.

One of the victims, identified as a corps member travelling for monthly clearance, was reportedly shot dead before his body was returned to his family.

Earlier in March 2026, a kidnapped corps member identified as Abba appeared in a video released by his abductors, confirming that he was alive and appealing for calm as ransom negotiations continued.

The video emerged after earlier rumours claimed he had been killed following his abduction by bandits in northern Nigeria.

In August 2025, a viral video showed a female corps member allegedly being assaulted by operatives of a state security outfit in Anambra State, sparking widespread outrage.

Also in 2025, a female prospective corps member died in a road accident while travelling to an NYSC orientation camp in Ebonyi State, while several others sustained injuries.

The trend continued in February 2023, when 15 corps members were rescued in Anambra State after being abducted while travelling from an orientation camp in Imo State to Lagos. Police intercepted the kidnappers along the Ihiala–Orlu Expressway.

Earlier incidents include the killing of a corps member in May 2022 during an exchange of gunfire between bandits and security operatives along the Kaduna-Abuja highway, as well as the 2018 arrest of kidnappers who abducted five corps members travelling to orientation camps in Rivers and Akwa Ibom states.

Missing youths

The elder sister of a missing corps member, Ghaniyah Olabiyi, recounted to Sunday PUNCH the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of her brother, Abdulrahman Olabode.

The 28-year-old has not been seen after he left Osogbo, Osun State, for Lagos on May 31, 2025.

She said her brother’s last confirmed contact with her was around 7pm that day, when he informed her that he was approaching Ibadan, Oyo State, while travelling back to his place of primary assignment in Lagos.

Abdulrahman, who was serving in Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State, had briefly visited Osogbo to prepare for his passing-out parade and attend to personal matters.

His sister said subsequent enquiries at his workplace, NYSC officials, motor parks, and several police formations yielded no information about his whereabouts.

The family later expanded the search to include the Department of State Services, anti-kidnapping units, and searches along the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway, but without success.

According to Olabiyi, the circumstances surrounding his disappearance, just two days before the completion of his service year, led the family to believe that Abdulrahman had been abducted.

More than a year after Abdulrahman’s whereabouts remain unknown, leaving the family devastated and still searching for answers.

Similarly, in January 2026, videos of a woman went viral on social media aa she moved around a Lagos market, appealing for financial assistance to raise the ransom demanded by her daughter’s abductors.

It was learnt that the woman’s only daughter, Lateefah Binuyo, was travelling to the NYSC orientation camp in Taraba State when she was abducted in Kogi State.

Her abductors later demanding N30m for her release.

The incident prompted the Lagos State House of Assembly to call for urgent intergovernmental intervention and enhanced security collaboration to secure the prospective corps member’s release.

The matter was raised during plenary by the lawmaker representing Lagos Island 1, and Chairman of the House committee on Women Affairs, Poverty Alleviation and Job Creation, Omolara Olumegbon, who expressed concerns over the safety of young graduates participating in the national service scheme.

Olumegbon urged the House to petition the Federal Government to strengthen security along major transit corridors used by corps members.

Fortunately, Binuyo regained her freedom after spending 10 days in captivity and was reunited with her family.

Desperation and fear

Although the NYSC regulations provide legitimate grounds for redeployment, some graduates allege that officials and intermediaries take advantage of desperate corps members seeking to avoid high-risk states.

An NYSC official who spoke to our correspondent on condition of anonymity, said, “In the past, people sought redeployment because of career opportunities or personal preferences. Now, many prospective corps members simply want to avoid states they consider dangerous.

“Some graduates and their families are willing to spend large amounts of money to influence deployments because they believe it is the only way to guarantee their safety. As long as that fear exists, there will always be people within and outside the system ready to profit from it.

“Almost every mobilisation period, we receive calls from prospective corps members who do not want to be posted to certain states. Officially, there is a process for redeployment, but many of them do not want to take that chance because it is not certain.

“NYSC cannot redeploy everyone. That is not possible, so those graduates want assurances before the call-up letter is released. That is where people begin looking for connections,” the source revealed.

Parents in panic

For parents such as Mrs Rachael Joseph, whose daughter is awaiting mobilisation, the uncertainty has become overwhelming.

She said, “Every day we hear stories of kidnappings, attacks, and corps members facing danger in places far from home. As a mother, I spend more time praying about where she will be posted than celebrating her graduation. I want her to serve her country, but more importantly, I want her to be safe.”

For Mr John Igbinedion, the safety of his 21-year-old has become an overriding concern.

“It is the joy of every parent when their children graduate from university, but these days. We’re always proud of that moment, but the moment the NYSC call-up letter is out, the fear begins. Instead of asking where my child will serve and what opportunities he will gain, I’m more concerned about his safety.

“No parent should have to choose between supporting national service over protecting their child’s life since the government cannot provide security for us anymore,” he added.

Psychologist reacts

Commenting on the psychological impact of insecurity on corps members and their families, consultant clinical psychologist and fellow of the American Psychological Association, Dr Mustapha Sanbe, said the prevailing security situation could trigger anxiety and emotional distress.

According to him, trauma may manifest as chronic stress, confusion, and other mental health challenges, that could persist and affect overall well-being.

“This is why psychological factors must be taken seriously. Trauma can impair rational thinking, causing individuals to make illogical decisions or defend irrational positions.

“Despite these concerns, however, I do not believe the NYSC scheme should be cancelled. The legal framework establishing it is still valid, and the goal of fostering unity among Nigeria’s diverse ethnic groups remains important.

“Young people are still willing to travel and serve in different parts of the country, even if they may not fully appreciate the risks involved. But that does not invalidate the purpose of the scheme. There are still positive examples of integration and unity, such as cases where corps members posted to different regions eventually settle and build families in their host communities,” Sanbe stated.

Guaranteeing safety

Meanwhile, security expert, Olalekan Jackson-Ojo, argued that the original objective of national integration is being undermined by the inability to guarantee the safety of corps members deployed to different regions.

According to him, enhanced security arrangements may not be enough as reassurance, given the scale of insecurity in some parts of the country.

The security expert suggested that the most practical reform would be to restrict corps members to serving within their states or regions rather than posting them in an unsafe state.

He said, “There is nothing we can realistically do without addressing the security foundation. There cannot be any special protection force strong enough to guarantee NYSC members’ safety across all regions. Even if such a unit existed, the risks remain too high.

“The only practical reform is that everyone should serve within their respective states. That is the only option. A time is coming when even forcing people from the South to the North will not work anymore. People will refuse. Can you send someone to remote rural areas where schools are not functioning properly and expect them to work safely? Can you send corps members to places like Chibok, Zamfara, or other highly volatile areas and expect voluntary compliance? The answer is no.”

He warned that failure to adjust the policy to current security realities could lead to declining participation and eventual collapse of the scheme, as more graduates may refuse deployment on safety grounds.

Also speaking, educationist Dele Olateju, said the growing demand for redeployment among prospective corps members reflects a decline in public confidence in national institutions such as the National Youth Service Corps.

According to him, public perceptions of NYSC have changed significantly because of the country’s worsening security situation.

“What is needed is stronger security and better protection measures. There are calls to suspend NYSC because of insecurity, but I do not agree with that position. While there are challenges, they can be addressed by improving safety and avoiding deployment to high-risk areas rather than dismantling the scheme entirely,” Olateju said.

Efforts to obtain comments from the Director of Information and Public Relations for the National Youth Service Corps, Caroline Embu, remained unsuccessful as her number was unreachable, and she had yet to respond to messages as of the time of filing this report. (Punch )