Reps urge IG to probe disappearance of corps member

The House of Representatives has directed the Inspector General of Police to immediately investigate and rescue Godwin Okeke, a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member who has gone missing since May.

The directive followed a motion of urgent public importance moved by Nnolim Nnaji (PDP, Enugu) during the Plenary on Thursday.

Okeke, from Umuanyi Village, Ovuorie, Ugbawka Community in Nkanu East LGA of Enugu State, was reported missing on May 9 while serving in Ondo state.

Nnaji, in his motion, lamented that the Commissioner of Police in Ondo State and the State Coordinator of NYSC, with the management of the scheme, have not taken adequate measures to search and rescue the missing Corp member.

He said the family of Okeke had been left with the responsibility of searching for their son, with minimal support from the authorities.

The lawmaker said: “Notes that the NYSC was established to engage Nigerian university graduates in effective community services and nation building across ethnolinguistic boundaries. However, the scheme has been threatened by myriads of abductions, incessant attacks and murders due to the inadequate facilities and general welfare;

“Aware that there is an optimum obligation of providing safe environment and facilities for NYSC members on Federal and State Governments in conjunction with security agencies while serving or posted in various host communities;

“Concerned that a Youth Corper and my constituent, Okeke Chukwuemeka Godwin from Umuanyi Village, Ovuorie, Ugbawka Community in Nkanu East LGA of Enugu State, being the best-graduated student in Computer Science Department at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State with Second Class upper division, has been missing till date, while serving in Ondo State under Batch 23B;

“Also concerned that Godwin was supposed to complete his NYSC programme on June 17th, 2024, but got missing on May 9th, 2024, which was the particular day his parents couldn’t reach him on his mobile phone numbers till date;

“Informed that on the 13th day of May, 2024, the mother of the missing Corp member, Mrs. Okeke Patience and his younger brother, went to Akure, Ondo State, to verify the situation and thereby visited his place of primary assignment and residence but could not get any vital information.”

Nnaji recalled that the relatives reported the matter to the Nigerian Police (Ijakpo Police Division), who sent a signal to other police stations and the police headquarters in Ondo State for investigation, but after some interrogations, the family has not been fully communicated on the outcome of these investigations.

He added that the relatives also reported the matter to the local government and state office of the NYSC, including the community leadership, saying that up till date, the matter is still pending without any information leading to his rescue.

The House urged President Bola Tinubu to appropriately direct the state governments and security agencies to provide maximum security and good habitation facilities for Youth Corps members.

The House also directed the Inspector General of Police (IGP), the Director-General of NYSC, and relevant agencies to investigate the case of the missing Corp member and initiate measures for the safety and welfare of Corp members in every host community.