THE management and staff of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), throughout the weekend, held memorial prayers in honour of the corps members who were slain in the April post-election violence in Bauchi State.Though the slain corps members have been buried in their respective states of origin, the NYSC management starting from last Friday deemed it necessary to hold both Muslim and Christian prayers for the repose of their souls.Aside from the Christian prayers held at the NYSC headquarters in Abuja, a prayer was also held at the National Mosque on Friday. There was also a mass held at the Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Zone 2, Abuja where NYSC members of staff, led by directors of public relations and corps welfare and mobilization, Mrs. Foluso Kolajo and Elizabeth Adimora respectively, paid their respects to the fallen heroes. .During the Friday prayer, Mrs Kolajo, described the death of the corps members as most unanticipated and most unwarranted. Its a tragedy but then its a situation we have to contend with. It is not our making, she said. .According to her, the slain corps members served the nation with diligence contributing to what is adjudged a credible election both nationally and internationally. .They were attacked because they did not agree to the wishes of evil doers . We pray for the repose of their souls. Their death must not be in vain. I want to believe this nation will do something worthy to assuage the parents of these children, she said. .The Director-General of the NYSC, Muharazu Tsiga, after the Jumat prayers, described the death of the corps members as a national calamity. It is unfortunate that some of my children, the corps members, while doing their youth service in Bauchi State lost their lives in the political violence. We believe that the only respect we can give to them now is to have this kind of opportunity to pray to the Almighty so they can have peace in their final destination, he said. .At the church service held yesterday, NYSC members staff were dressed in black as a sign of respect to the slain heroes. The mass was celebrated by Fr. Thomas Asen, who called on the Federal Government to immortalise the slain corps members. Serving corps members were also at the service to pay their last respects to their late colleagues.While he prayed to God for merciful judgment for the dead, he urged government to beef up security in the country.The Director of Corps Welfare, Mrs Adimora, in an interview at the end of the mass, disclosed that President Goodluck Jonathan would be meeting with the families of the dead corps members and that adequate compensation would be given them.As for the posting of corps members to the states where there had been hostility against corps member, Adimora said that this would be adequately debated but urged improved security in the country. .The number of corps members who died in the Bauchi mayhem was nine but another corps member, who had been hospitalised, Anyanwu Agnes Onyinyechi, was said to have died last Friday, bringing the death toll to 10.Those who were killed in the Bauchi violence were: Anyanwu Agnes Onyinyechi, HND Business Administration and Management with call -up number BA/10B/8347. She hailed from Imo State, Akanyi Ibrahim Sule with HND in Business Administration and call-up number BA/11A/1009 hailed from Kogi State.Gbenjo Ebenezer Ayotunde had a B.Sc in Education Economics. He hailed from Osun State and had call-up number BA/10B/0463. Ukeoma Ikechukwu Chibuzor had a B.Sc in Medical Microbiology and hailed from Imo State. His NYSC number was BA/11A/1354.Others are Adeniji Kehinde Jehleel from Osun State. He had a B.Sc in Banking and Finance and his call-up number was BA/10B/0197. Adewunmi Seun Paul hailed from Ekiti and had a B.Sc in Social Sciences. His call-up number was BA/10B/1301.Adowei Elliot was from Bayelsa State with number BA/11A/0274 and a B.Sc in Computer Science. Okpokiri Obinna Michael from Abia State had a B.Sc in Environmental Management and his call-up number was BA/10C/0950.Nkwazema Anslem Chukwunonso hailed from Imo State and had an HND in Electrical/Electronics Engineering and his call-up number was BA/10B/1160 while Teidi Tosin Olawale was from Kogi State. He held a B.Sc in Computer Science and NYSC number BA/10C/1220. .The management of NYSC described them as martyrs and heroes of Nigerias democracy.
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