The authorities at the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) have turned around to admit that copies of its pamphlets on security tips for staff and corps members contain the “embarrassing” clause that advises corps members to prepare for ransom payment if abducted.
The organization explained that there are two different copies of the pamphlets in circulation with some containing the clause and others not.
The NYSC spokesperson, Adenike Adeyemi, admitted this to Premium Times on Friday and added that the organisation had instituted a probe.
NYSC has been in the eye of the storm after it emerged its booklet containing security advice for corps members advised them to contact their relatives to organize payment of ransom if they have to pass through highways noted for kidnapping.
The issue blew up in the media, especially the social media, and NYSC sent out a statement claiming there was no such information in its booklets.
This prompted corps members in possession of the booklets to take snapshots and video clips of the offending portions of the booklet and post online.
The handbook, which is titled; “Security Awareness and Education Handbook For Corps Members and Staff,” on its page 56, advised both corps members (and staff) travelling on “high-risk” roads to alert their “family members, friends and colleagues to have someone on hand to pay off the ransom that could be demanded” in case they are kidnapped.
The document lists such roads to include “Abuja-Kaduna, Abuja-Lokoja-Okene, or Aba-Port Harcourt” roads.
The document is produced by Watchcon Security Consultancy Services – a private security outfit, in collaboration with the headquarters of the National Youths Service Corps.
The pamphlet, on page 57, advises both the staff and corps members on how to conduct themselves when kidnapped, saying; “Do not antagonise your captors, be polite and operate with reasonable regards.”
It also advises the corps members and its staff to show reasonable cooperation to the abductors, and that they should “establish a personal relationship with your abductors as soon as possible.”
It further added; “The kidnappers may ask for contact persons, do not mention your place of work, but your close friends and parents. They will reach them to negotiate for your release.
“Advise your friends involved in the negotiations, they should be friendly with the captors.
“Take no risk by attempting to escape,” even as it urges abductees not to attempt to be a hero making efforts to escape.
“Make no statement to the media after your release without official clearance but share your experience with close associates,” it further counsels.
An embarrassed NYSC had earlier described the clause in circulation as the handiwork of mischief-makers.
In a statement, NYSC said: “The attention of Management of the National Youth Service Corps has been drawn to a fake release making the rounds on the social media to the effect that Corps Members travelling on “high-risk roads” should alert their families, friends and colleagues in order to have somebody to pay off the ransom that could be demanded in the event of being kidnapped.
“Management wishes to emphatically state that the clause mischievously quoted is not embedded in NYSC Security Tips pamphlet which was put together by a highly respected retired security expert.
“Management wishes to appeal to the general public to always clarify issues with the Scheme.”
“Please, be wary of falling prey to the antics of mischief-makers out to ridicule the Scheme,” it added.
