iDeemlawfulThe management of the National Youth Service Corps has disowned a pamphlet widely circulating on social media that provides instructions on how corps members should act during a kidnapping.
The document, which went viral with claims that it formed part of official safety guidelines for prospective corps members travelling to their deployment states, was described as false and misleading.I
n a statement titled *Circulation of Fake Safety NYSC Pamphlet Advocating Ransom Payment*, the NYSC dismissed the material as unauthorised and not reflective of its policies.
The management explained that although a consultant presented a similar document in 2021, it was never approved for use.
The statement reads, “The attention of the Management of the National Youth Service Corps has been drawn to a purported NYSC pamphlet advising corps members to pay ransom in the event of kidnapping. While a similar document was presented to Management for consideration by a consultant in 2021, it was not adopted by the Scheme.”
The scheme further urged the public to disregard the circulating material, adding, “Management, therefore, wishes to make it clear that the document being circulated is not an official NYSC publication and does not represent the Scheme’s policy regarding staff and corps members’ security; as such, it should be ignored.”
The disowned pamphlet contained alleged safety instructions for kidnapped corps members.
“Do not resist armed kidnappers. Keep calm and be patient. Do not antagonise your captors, be polite and operate with reasonable regards. Give reasonable cooperation to your abductors.”
It also advised corps members to develop a personal rapport with kidnappers and avoid mentioning their workplace when asked for contact persons, according to Page 57 of the handbook.
It continues, “Advise your friends involved in the negotiations, they should be friendly with the captors. Take no risk by attempting to escape. DO NOT BE A HERO. Keep fit with mental exercise. Make no statement to the media after your release without official clearance but share your experience with close associates.”
