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Corps members pulled out of crisis-hit communities in Benue amid renewed violence.
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NYSC confirms all evacuated members are safe and currently housed in Makurdi
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Tinubu orders arrest of killers during emergency visit to the state capital
The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has confirmed the evacuation of corps members serving in the volatile communities of Yelewata and Daudu in Benue State following a fresh wave of deadly attacks that have left dozens of civilians dead.
The Benue State Coordinator of the NYSC, Mrs Veronica Garba, disclosed the development on Thursday during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Wannune, Tarka Local Government Area. She said corps members in the affected areas were evacuated with the help of the police and relocated to safer accommodations in Makurdi.
Garba revealed that the corps members are now being sheltered in secure facilities provided by the Nigeria Corpers Christian Fellowship, the National Association of Catholic Corps Members, and the Muslim Corpers Association of Nigeria.
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She said the NYSC activated its emergency response as soon as the violence escalated and worked closely with the Commissioner of Police to ensure the safe movement of corps members.
She stated that a full headcount was conducted after the evacuation and confirmed that no corps member was missing. According to her, all the relocated members have now been settled in family houses in Makurdi where they will remain until the security situation improves.
Garba assured worried parents that their children are safe and are receiving support in their new locations.
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She urged parents to remain calm, adding that top security officials are now stationed in Benue and that the federal government is handling the situation with urgency.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu visited Makurdi on Wednesday where he met with stakeholders and security chiefs. During the visit, he ordered a total crackdown on the perpetrators of the recent attacks and directed security agencies to restore peace and normalcy across the affected communities.
NYSC authorities say they will continue to monitor the situation and will not deploy any corps member to high-risk areas until further notice.
