One of the sad stories that coloured 2016 was the tragic deaths of young
Nigerian graduates mobilised for the NYSC – a mandatory one year scheme
by the Federal Government where youths are dispatched to various
states, communities in service of their 'fatherland'. The scheme has
overtime been plagued with deaths of young graduates, either brazenly
maimed by hoodlums during elections or involved in a ghastly accident.
Some (as was the recent case of Ifedolapo Oladepo) died as a result of
NYSC negligence and ill-treatment. 2016 saw the death of these
youngsters, causing everlasting grief for their families, relations, and
the nation. They include:
1. LAUTECH First Class Graduate, Ifedolapo Oladepo
Ifedolapo Oladepo, a first class graduate of Transport Management at
Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomosho (LAUTECH), gave up
the ghost at NYSC orientation camp in Kano, after the medical personnel
at the camp reportedly administered a medication which she reacted to
immediately.
Like many thousands of young graduates mobilised for the 2016 Batch ‘C’
service year, 26-year-old Ifedolapo, had said her goodbye to her family
members, hoping to see her dreams fulfilled but that dreams were
shattered.
Exactly a week in the Camp, it was her corpse that was brought to her
family after she was said to have died following complications arising
from an ailment few days into the NYSC orientation programme in Kano.
The remains of Ifedolapo was sent to her parents in Osogbo, Osun State,
from Kano where she was buried at her family’s residence.
2. Hafsat Isa, Who Died Two Months To Her Wedding: Hafsat Isa was
left dead after a ghastly motor accident on an Abuja highway on
September 14, while travelling on the Kaduna-Abuja expressway. She died
on the day she was due to complete the mandatory one-year scheme, and
was to get married in December.
3. Ngozi Onyekwere, Burnt To Death: Ngozi Onyekwere was burnt to
death in a fatal accident in Akwa Ibom state. The late Ngozi, an
Accounting graduate from the University of Port Harcourt, met her ill
fate on June 23, after her vehicle, a Toyota Camry suddenly caught fire
in Mbiokporo Nsit in Nsit Ibom Local Government Area, LGA of the state
at about 3pm. Ngozi was returning from the government house where she
was posted before she met her untimely death. The 26-year-old was burnt
beyond recognition while the driver of the vehicle and the commuter at
the front sit reportedly escaped.
4. Peter Ameh Died In Fatal Accident Few Hours After Passing Out
A 28-year-old corp member, Abba Peter Ameh lost his life in a tragic
accident on his way homw after completing the service year. Ameh was
among the Batch B Stream II corp members who passed out on November 4,
2016, in a happy mood, he was heading back home to meet his family in
Benue State when he met his death in a fatal motor accident along
Otukpa-Ugbokolo Road in Ogbadibo Local Government Area of Benue State.
He was buried on Tuesday, November 8, in Itabono Owukpa, Ogbadibo Local
Government Area, Benue State.
5. Another First Class Gradate, Ukeme Monday Asuquo Died At Zamfara Orientation Camp:
Another first class graduate, Ukeme who was mobilised to Zamfara State
for the NYSC programme also died in the camp. The Petroleum Engineering
graduate who never wanted to serve in Zamfara died at the orientation
Camp after suffering from Diarrhea.
6. Okonta Samuel Dumebi, An Orphan Gruesomely Murdered During Rivers Re-Run:
Okonta Samuel Dumebi, who was on election duties in Rivers state rerun
parliamentary elections on March 19, was shot dead by hoodlums. Dumebi,
an orphan from Illah area of Delta state, was serving as ad-hoc staff of
INEC at Ahoada West local government area when he and two of his
colleagues were attacked by hoodlums who were trying to disturb the
conduct of the free and fair exercise.
7. Olayemi Falomo, died few hours to Passing Out: Batch B Stream
II Corps Member, Olayemi Falomo, died few hours to her passing out
ceremony which was on the 6th of October, 2016.
8. Elechi Chiyerom Bled to Death In Bayelsa Camp:
A 27-year old, Elechi Chiyerom also died at the Bayelsa National Youth
Service Corps (NYSC) camp after bleeding and vomiting on arrival at the
camp. The graduate of the Ignatius Uhuru University of Education, Port
Harcourt, Rivers State, was confirmed dead five days after arrival at
the camp.
Report says Elechi looked “terribly sick” when she arrived at the camp
and was rushed to the camp’s sick bay after she relapsed into
ill-health.
The doctor at the NYSC camp’s clinic was said to have referred her to
the state-owned Diette-Koki Memorial Hospital in the Opolo area of
Yenagoa, the state capital, where she was confirmed dead while NYSC
officials said that it was a case of “non-disclosure” of state of health
by the corps member.
