2011 Post Election Violence: NYSC Presents N26.7m To Families Of Dead, Injured Corps Members In Niger

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC)
on Wednesday in Minna presented N26.7
million cheques to the families of the
two corps members killed in the 2011
post-election violence in Niger. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)
reports that 61 other corps members
who were injured during the violence are
also to benefit from the gesture. Alhaji Saidu Kpaki, Secretary to the Niger
State Government (SSG), who presented
the cheques on behalf of
the government, advised youths against
being used as thugs by politicians. “Time has come when youths should
take their destinies in their hands by
resisting politicians who would lure them
to self destruction for personal
gains”, Kpaki said. The deceased corps members were;
Ademola M. Adejoke and Nwali C.Ifeoma
with NYSC registration number
NG/10A/353 and NG/10A/614,
respectively. “I do not see the crisis as that of religion.
May be it is political or joblessness or as a
result of poverty. Tell whoever that
wants to recruit you as thugs to bring his
or her son to lead the way. “Taking up arms in the name of religion
is against all known religious norms.
Religion is, and should be out of one’s
volition. It is never compulsory.” Earlier, Mrs Justina Andirya, the NYSC
Coordinator in Niger, said the Federal
Government was pained by the death of
the corps members and the sufferings of
the injured. She said no amount of financial
compensation would replace the dead
loved ones. Andirya said the financial support for the
injured was based on the degree of
injury. In his remarks, Mr Adebayo Adesanya,
President of the Nigeria Christian
Corpers Fellowship (NCCF), expressed
appreciation to the Federal Government
for the gesture. (NAN)