The Director-General, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier-General Johnson Olawunmi, has warned politicians and their supporters not to vent their frustration on corps members working as ad-hoc staff for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The DG on his separate visits to the Air Force Commander at the 97 Special Operations Unit, Air Commodore Olusegun Philips, and the Commissioner of Police, CP Hossiah Karma, said the lives of corps members must be considered valuable.
He told the Commissioner of Police, Hossiah Karma, that he was in Rivers State over the outbreak of violence that trailed the March 28 presidential and National Assembly elections, during which corps members were harassed and molested in different parts of the state.
He said: “We at the NYSC are making a passionate appeal to the military, police and other security agencies to help protect the lives of corpers working with INEC during the election on Saturday. Rivers State is a flashpoint. Therefore, we do not want any harm done to these children.
“Politicians should please call their supporters to order. They should warn them not to cause violence or inflict any harm on corps members who are on national assignment. They must never vent their anger or frustrations on these innocent young men and women.”
Responding, the Air Force commander and police boss assured the DG that more than ever before, the security of corps members who would work for INEC during the polls in the state would be given top priority.
“Collectively, we must ensure that corps members are safe at their places of assignment and also safely return to their bases. They are very precious to the entire nation and so nobody must attempt to endanger or snatch their lives,” they pledged.
A total of 4, 500 corps members are expected to work as ad-hoc staff during Saturday’s governorship and State House of Assembly elections in Rivers State.
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