Armed robbers have attacked members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Akamkpa local government area of Cross River State.
The robbers, armed with locally-made pistols, machete and other dangerous weapons, invaded the corpers’ lodge in the early hours of Tuesday and made away with property estimated at several hundreds of thousands.
DAILY POST gathered that assorted phones, various sizes of luggages, NYSC uniforms, shoes and other personal effects were carted away by the robbers.
A villager, who declined to give his name, said the incident took the community unawares pointing out that, “This is the first time we are witnessing such”.
It was gathered that the incident happened when the corps members numbering about eighteen (18) made of males and females were in the lodge preparing for their primary assignments.
When our correspondent contacted the NYSC Public Relations Officer, Abdullahi Yuguda on phone on Wednesday, he lamented the situation, adding that the authority was not pleased with the situation.
“The incident happened on Tuesday in Akamkpa local government area of the State. It took place in the early hours. Our State Coordinator Ambekemo Eniola was not happy with the situation” and has expressed displeasure over the event.
“She condemned the attitude of the locals and saw it as embarrassment and disgrace given that the sons and daughters of the state are been handled as kings and queens in other states in the federation.
“She has reported the incident to appropriates quarters including the Police and other security agencies, traditional rulers in the area, leadership of National Youth Council of Nigeria and others.
“They are putting their hands together to ensure that the perpetrators of this crime are brought to book. For us the action is very bad, the state was rated very high when it comes to hospitality but faced with this kind of crime, it is very bad,” he stated.
According to the PRO, the affected corps members were the entire members of Christian Association Corpers’ fellowship. “They came there to get themselves set before moving to various places of primary assignment in Akamkpa.
“You can imagine over 90 percent of the corps member posted there but attacked by armed robbers around 3-4am on Tuesday. So far nobody has been arrested but the DPO, Commissioner of Police and other relevant security agencies have been alerted.”
He however said that NYSC is computing all the losses with a view to channelling it to the state government for payment as it is the state’s responsibility to provide adequate security to corps members.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Ms Irene Ugbo, when contacted, claimed ignorance of the incident, saying: “I am not aware but when I get to the office, I will find out”. When several calls were extended to her again after many hours, they rang out.
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