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NYSC redeploys corps members as attack heightens in Borno

By Ifedayo Adebayo

July 14, 2011 01:06AM
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The national secretariat of National Youth Service Corps announced on Wednesday that it was planning massive redeployment of corps members serving in Borno State as a result of the current security challenges in the area.

The NYSC director general, Maharazu Tsiga, made the announcement in Maiduguri while briefing reporters on the latest development in the state, stating that "the NYSC will not hesitate to relocate corps members from states where there is no security for them.

"Borno is not an exception. We have decided to relocate all those in the camp and others already serving from the state," Mr Tsiga said.

He said that the relocation would be limited to those willing to leave the state, but "those who wish to stay behind will not be affected by the relocation, because we do not want a repeat of what happened in Bauchi last year, where massive relocation led to protest. Married women, nursing mothers and those who are sick will also be left out if they wish."

However, claiming that no corps member would be relocated to his state of origin in the exercise, Mr Tsiga said the practice was against the NYSC code and "we are going to decide which part of the country to relocate the corps members, because no member will be allowed to serve in his state of origin."

The NYSC boss denounced a media report indicating that there was a bomb blast at the Borno NYSC Camp on Tuesday, saying it was untrue.

"The story indicating that three corps members died after an explosion in the camp is not only untrue, but unfortunate. Media men should strive hard to make peace and not try to create problems," he said.

He also expressed shock over some text messages indicating that the NYSC camp in Jigawa was on fire.

Meanwhile, in another attack, suspected members of the Boko Haram sect on Wednesday detonated a bomb outside the residence of late Borno state former governor, Mala Kachalla. Military spokesperson, Victor Ebhaleme ,said that the blast did not hurt anyone.

Mr Kachalla died in 2007, but his family still resides at his house in Maiduguri.

Prior to the recent attack, Boko Haram struck in the Borno state capital on Tuesday evening, killing three people riding in a van close to a military checkpoint.

Commander of the Joint Military Taskforce, Jack Nwachukwu Nwaogbo, a major general, said an explosive went off under the van as its driver slowed down at a military and police checkpoint in the metropolis. The blast killed the driver and two passengers.

The University of Maiduguri yesterday announced that it was shutting down indefinitely over threat letters it received purportedly from the group.

University spokesperson, Ahmed Mohammed, said that the institution could no longer guarantee the safety of its students and that the university would not be held responsible should anything happen to any student.

In a June 12 handbill attributed to Boko Haram, the group asked for the prosecution of some former governors, which it blamed for the 2009 death of its leader. The source of the leaflet could not be ascertained.

Meanwhile, committee of Borno elders and leaders of thought have called on President Goodluck Jonathan to ensure the withdrawal of all soldiers deployed to the streets of Maiduguri, arguing that the soldiers have failed to address the security situation perpetrated by the Islamic sect; but instead have only succeeded in burning down houses and cars, killing innocent people and harassing passers-by since their deployment to the state.

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Wednesday fixed July 19 for taking the plea of five police officers accused of unlawfully killing the late leader of the Boko Haram sect, Mohammed Yusuf.

Those charged to undergo the trial are J.B. Abang, Akeera, and Madu Buba, all assistant commissioners of police; Mohammed Ahmadu, a chief superintendent of police, and Adamu Gado, a sergeant.