2-IN-1 STORY: NYSC Declares Three-Day Mourning For Death Of Nine Corps

NYSC Members

National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has declared three-days to mourn the death of nine corps members who drowned on Saturday.

The Guardian Nigeria report continues:

The death of the nine corps member was confirmed by Taraba State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP David Missal

Missal confirmed that bodies of seven out of the 22 corps members who went swimming in River Mayo-Selbe were recovered while 2 bodies are still missing.

The Taraba State NYSC coordinator, Mrs Florence Yaakugh described the deaths as “most unfortunate.”

Yaakugh also confirmed that seven bodies have been recovered, while the search for the other two bodies was still ongoing by the locals in collaboration with security agencies and the NYSC.

“It is a very sad development and we would soon have the identity of all the corps members involved in the accident and make such information known appropriately,” She said.

Gov Ishaku Condoles With Families, NYSC As Corpers Drown In Taraba River

The Punch reports that Taraba State Governor, Darius Ishaku, on Monday condoled with the National Youth Service Corps and families of nine corps members who died in a river in the state on Saturday.

This is contained in a statement issued in Jalingo and signed by Ishaku’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mr. Bala Dan-Abu.

The statement quoted Governor Ishaku as saying, “The incident is unfortunate and regrettable.

“My sympathy goes to the families, the National Youth Service Corps and colleagues of the nine corps members who drowned during a picnic in Gashaka LGA of the state at the weekend.

“I prayed God Almighty to grant the parents and relations of the deceased the fortitude to bear these painful losses.”

Ishaku advised corps members to always inform officials of the NYSC and those of their primary assignments in advance of their plans to travel and social outing which are prone to some hazards so that adequate security and safety covers would be made officially for them.

“This unfortunate case of drowning of young men and women could perhaps have been avoided if participants in the tragic picnic incident had involved the NYSC officials and other security agencies.

“I therefore, urge Youth Corps Members serving across the country to always involve authorities in their areas of their plans to embark on exercise and sought the company of rescue officials in case things go wrong,” the statement ended.

It could be recalled that nine out of 22 corps members who participated in the picnic party last Saturday drowned in River Mayo-Selbe in Gashaka local government area of Taraba, after a sudden upsurge in the volume of water.

Local residents said, there was a heavy rain fall north of the river around Mambilla Plateau, which is said to be over 7,000 feet above sea level, forcing the water to rushed down to river Mayo-Selbe where the corps members were swimming.

Police and the NYSC officials said seven corpses have been recovered while the search for the remaining two is still ongoing.