In a decisive response to online misinformation, the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has officially disowned a pamphlet circulating on social media that allegedly advises corps members to pay ransom in the event of abduction. Okay News reports that the Corps described the document as fraudulent and emphasized that it is not an official NYSC publication.
According to a statement released via the NYSC official X handle on Thursday, the pamphlet bears no relation to the Scheme’s policies. The management clarified that although a consultant had presented a similar document for internal consideration in 2021, it was never adopted.
“The attention of the Management of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has been drawn to a purported NYSC pamphlet advising corps members to pay ransom in the event of kidnapping. While a similar document was presented to Management for consideration by a consultant in 2021, it was not adopted by the Scheme. Management, therefore, wishes to make it clear that the document being circulated is not an official NYSC publication and does not represent the Scheme’s policy regarding staff and corps members’ security; as such, it should be ignored,” the statement read.
The NYSC reassured corps members and the general public of its ongoing commitment to their safety. The Corps stated that it continues to collaborate with security agencies and stakeholders to enhance protection measures for both corps members and staff.
The reemergence of the pamphlet online has renewed public concern about Nigeria’s security situation, particularly regarding kidnapping risks. The document initially gained attention in September 2021, when images surfaced showing advice for travelers on high-risk roads to notify family, friends, or colleagues to ensure ransom payment availability in case of abduction.
At that time, NYSC had dismissed the pamphlet as fake but later acknowledged that similar materials had circulated, prompting an internal review. Its reappearance comes amid heightened national security tensions, including recent abductions in Kwara State and international concerns over human rights issues.
