Key Points

• The NYSC has confirmed the circulating ransom pamphlet is fake.

• Corps members are reassured that their safety and security remain priorities.

• The resurfacing NYSC ransom pamphlet sparked renewed concern across social media.

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has officially denied that a pamphlet going around online told corps members to pay a ransom if they were kidnapped. The agency said the document is fake and not one of its official publications. This comes as worries grow about the rise in kidnappings in Nigeria.

NYSC management made it clear in a statement on Thursday through its X handle that a similar document had been put up for consideration in 2021 but was never adopted.

“A consultant gave Management a similar document to look at in 2021, but the Scheme did not adopt it.” The statement said, “Management wants to make it clear that the document being shared is not an official NYSC publication and does not reflect the Scheme’s policy on the safety of staff and corps members. Therefore, it should be ignored.”

NYSC says the ransom pamphlet is a hoax

The NYSC said again that it is still committed to keeping its staff and corps members safe. The group made it clear that it works closely with security agencies and other interested parties to improve safety measures all over the country.

Officials told people to ignore the pamphlet and only pay attention to official communications from the scheme.

Corps members were given peace of mind despite security worries

In September 2021, the pamphlet first got people talking. It told travellers on “high-risk roads” to tell family, friends, or coworkers so that someone could pay a ransom if they were kidnapped.

At first, NYSC thought it was fake, but later they admitted that different versions had been going around, which led to an internal review. The pamphlet’s return has sparked new conversations about the security risks that corps members face all over the country.

NYSC ransom pamphlet gets a lot of attention across the country

The document is being circulated at the same time as rising tensions over national security, such as recent kidnappings in Kwara State. The resurfacing has also gotten a lot of attention from people around the world, which shows how worried people are about the safety of young Nigerians who are sent to dangerous areas.

The NYSC stressed that corps members should only follow official rules given by the scheme or through recognised channels to keep them safe.

The NYSC’s clarification is meant to calm the public and corps members’ fears by making it clear that it does not support ransom payments and is still working with law enforcement to keep people safe and prevent crime.