Families, friends and colleagues were thrown into mourning on Saturday as Jalilat Suleiman, Usman Shuaibu and Abdullahi Dauda, the three corps members who lost their lives in an auto crash along the Narehi axis of the Girei–Song Road in Adamawa State, were laid to rest.

The trio had just completed their orientation exercise and were preparing to begin a new phase of their lives before the tragic incident.

The corps members, who belonged to the 2026 Batch A Stream II of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), were reportedly travelling to retrieve their belongings and settle into their places of primary assignment when the accident occurred on June 3, 2026.

For many corps members, the period after orientation camp is usually marked by excitement and anticipation as they prepare to explore new environments, meet new people and contribute to communities far from home.

For Jalilat, Usman and Abdullahi, however, what should have marked the beginning of that experience instead became the end of a journey that had barely begun.

At the Specialist Hospital, Yola, grief filled the atmosphere as the NYSC Adamawa State Secretariat joined families, friends, colleagues and sympathisers to bid the deceased a final farewell.

Parents wept openly over the loss of children whose futures had appeared full of promise, while friends and fellow corps members struggled to come to terms with the tragedy.

Many corps members stood quietly in shock, remembering colleagues with whom they had shared hopes, fears and expectations for the service year ahead.

Among those present were religious leaders, traditional rulers, representatives of the Nigerian Red Cross Society, NYSC officials, family members and members of the public who gathered to pay their last respects.

Speaking on behalf of the NYSC State Coordinator, Mrs Osoroh Chinedu, officials of the scheme expressed profound sadness over the loss and offered prayers for the peaceful repose of the departed souls.

They also assured the bereaved families of the scheme’s continued support during the difficult period.

One particularly emotional moment came when staff members of Nurul Yaqeen Academy, one of the employers of the deceased corps members, arrived from Mubi North to honour them.

Accompanied by serving corps members from the area, they travelled a considerable distance simply to pay their last respects, underscoring the impact the deceased had already made within a short time.

As condolence letters from NYSC management were presented to the grieving families, many mourners struggled to hold back tears.

When the final prayers were said and the bodies were taken for burial, a solemn silence descended on the gathering, reminding those present of the fragility of life and the uncertainty of tomorrow.

Some corps members who spoke with The Guardian said that although the lives of Jalilat, Usman and Abdullahi, were cut short, they would be remembered for the friendships they built, the lives they touched and the dreams they carried.