Sen. Shehu Sani (APC-Kaduna Central) has
called on the Federal Government to make the
National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme
voluntary or provide live insurance cover for
NYSC members.
Sani made the appeal while speaking to
newsmen shortly after he condoled with the
family of Lawal Kontagora, a youth corps
member allegedly killed by unknown gunmen
in Kaduna recently.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that
Kontagora, 26, an NYSC member, serving at
Africdect Information Technology Centre,
Kaduna, was shot dead by unknown gunmen
in Malali area in the metropolis on Oct. 17.
“This is not the first time, it has always been
the case, when it happens, we mourn we
condemn the action.
“This happened in my constituency and he is
part of my constituency. I have a duty to
pursue this case to its logical conclusion.
“If such things happen to others and they are
being ignored, I virtually will not fold my arms
and see this kind of things happen.
“I am taking this issue to the National
Assembly; we have to choose what to do and
being a corps member.
“It is either the government makes the service
year voluntary or there should be increased
funding or insurance,’’ he said.
Sani, who condemned the killing, tasked
authorities and security agencies in the state
to fish out perpetrators of the heinous crime
for prosecution to serve as deterrent to others.
He said that Kontagora could not be protected
by government from the hands of hoodlums
and thugs “clearly shows how vulnerable the
society is’’.
“The very fact that we have not inherited a
country that could not provide and protect us,
shows that we should have been able to do
better.
“Our young people are neither safe in primary
or secondary schools, nor safe in the
university, they are also not safe after the
university,’’ Sani lamented.
He said that the state had reached a point
where kidnapping was on the increase, mass
murder and killing of young people had also
become a daily event.
The senator prayed for the repose of the soul
of the deceased and for God to forgive him,
and grant his family the fortitude to bear the
loss.
On rape of minors in the country, Sani said
that there was a Bill before the National
Assembly to address the problem.
“We hope to fast-track most of these bills so
that we will have the legislative instrument to
tackle problems.
“We cannot run a society, where security is
limited to buying bullet proof cars and
erecting fences along the streets.
“We must provide security for each and every
Nigerian and those involved in the killing of
the young man, certainly, we are going to
ensure that justice is served.’’
Alhaji Lawal Umar Kontagora, the father of
the slain young man, said he was impressed
with the Senator’s visit.
“He is our senator and for him to come and
condole with us, we are very appreciative.
“I pray justice will be done for the loss of my
son because it was a gruesome murder and it
is very painful,’’ he said.
Meanwhile, the Kaduna Police Command in
the state said it had arrested three suspects
in connection with the alleged murder of the
Kontagora.
The Police Public Relations Officer for the
Command, ASP Aliyu Usman, told the News
Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the police had
also commenced investigation into the matter.
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