Maharazu Tsiga, the Director General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) on Wednesday, visited corps members serving in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, over the rape and eventual death of a female corps member, Grace Adie Ushang.
The late Ms. Ushang, a native of Cross River State, was raped to death last weekend by men who reportedly took offence because she was wearing her khaki trousers - the official uniform of the corps. Mr. Tsiga, who was in Maiduguri on Wednesday to address the corps members, said the police, detectives and officers of the State Security Service (SSS) are close to tracking down the perpetrators of the act.
“From what I gathered during my visit to the police commissioner and director of the SSS, we will soon get those behind the criminal act and murder of our corps member,” he said.
Though journalists were not allowed to attend Mr. Tsiga’s meeting with the corps members at the Musa Usman Secretariat, in the state capital, the NYSC boss disclosed that he only advised the corps members to be security-conscious.
“I urged them to take their personal security seriously because whatever we provided is not enough. They must learn to be security-conscious,” he said.
The news of Ms. Ushang’s death has led to threats of reprisal attacks in Obudu, Cross River State, where there is a large community of northerners, but elders of the area have been talking to their youth not to visit vengeance on Muslims as the matter is being handled at the national level.
The position of the elders was supported by the member representing Obudu/Bekwara/Obanliku Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives, Paul Adah, who described the death of Ms. Ushang as dastardly and morally reprehensible.
Mr. Adah said the Cross River State governor, Liyel Imoke, has waded into the matter and is discussing the incident with his Borno State counterpart in a bid to unmask the murderers.
Mr. Tsiga said his visit to the state was part of routine visits to see to the wellbeing of corps members.
“My mission to Maiduguri is part of the responsibility given to me as DG of NYSC; to come and see my corps members, how they are and what they are (doing) and make sure the staff are inspecting them the way they are supposed to,” he said.
“Secondly, I learnt that we lost a corps member. It is my responsibility as a DG; whatever happens to a corps member, I should be there to see the cause of the death, whether accident or otherwise.”
A demoralising action
He appealed to government and people of the state to be more hospitable to corps members, adding that they are in the state for national assignment. He said the young men and women are always ready to render selfless services to the host community, but said that such incidents can demoralise them.
Mr. Tsiga, however, urged corps members to go on with their normal activities. He said the government, security agencies and the Shehu of Borno have assured him of their protection. He also disclosed the readiness of the state government to increase the monthly allowance of corps members in the state. Some of the female corps members, who spoke to NEXT on condition of anonymity, expressed fear over their lives. They also expressed their desire to be transferred out of the state.
The late Ushang was serving at a secondary school in Maiduguri.
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