My NYSC Experience

Writing about my NYSC experience is something I dread somewhat, even though I understand it is inevitable. The reason for this loathsomeness is simple it evokes a deep feeling of insufficiency because I was restricted by conditions I could not change. This was a venture I waited all my school days looking up to, but when it came, it was not worthwhile. The more I spent time in it, the more I was disillusioned. Traveling was my only companion

I felt an air of fulfillment as I collected my N.Y.S.C Call-Up letter. I was filled with a high level of expectations of what I will achieve during this service year. I was mobilized and sent to Kogi state, one of the North Central States .At the camp at Asaya, Kabba/Bunu L.G.A we were all starry-eyed of being sent to places relevant to our training in school. We were all filled with strong, golden and healthy perceptions that the service year would be worthwhile. Our expectations were heralded by the state coordinator when she eloquently expressed how enjoyable the service year will be. After the mandatory three weeks training at the camp, I and other Corp Members who turned out to be a special class of friends I will continue to value,were posted to Olamaboro Local Govt. Area, Kogi State
. We were homogenous and one can not even know that we were not all from the same place or school. On course to Olamaboro Local Government my mind skipped when I
noticed that I was actually going to serve in a remote area. When we arrived our Place of Primary Assignment (P.P.A), we noticed that it was a private school  that was run wholly by Corp Members and that the welfare and security of the Corp Members were not taken as a priority. We (Eight in Number) opted not to serve in such enterprise. We urged the school to reject us which they refused but rather conspired with the Resident Inspector (R.I) to force us to serve in the school against our will. All these we never knew till later in our service year. How I wish I knew in time! After three Months in my service year, I left for Lokoja to effect my redeployment, it was then I was told what transpired and I realize that human beings can mortgage their conscience because of a pot of soup. Oh what a life!
 After five months into our service year precisely on march 15th 2010 at about 1:30am
, we were attacked by armed robbers. We were beaten and manhandled by these urchins. Yea Urchins. Personally, I was beaten with cutlass and boot and in the process they stole my money and left only Forty Naira for me. I lost my Laptop Computer, Sony Walkman Compact Disc Player, Brenthaven™ bag to these robbers that were shooting sporadically as they robbed. My other Friends lost two other laptops and phones,IPod,Watches and a lot sum of money. What a world! Imagine it; robbing poor Corp Members that were paid Nine Thousand Seven hundred and Fifty Naira per month and you will understand the standard of living of these people. It will be a great disservice if I didn’t mention that a Corp Member from the West was butchered by these criminal ragamuffins. Thank God he survived it. When you look at the length of the wound he sustained, you will understand that their
mission was to kill the innocent dude. Even the security man in charge ran and hid in the ceiling when he started hearing gunshots and out of fear defecated on his loincloth.

Furthermore, the ‘interesting’ part of what happened was that the proprietress of the school paid lip service to the misfortune that befell us. She never came to sympathise with us. We were made to report to the police officially in the morning notwithstanding that they were informed immediately after the robbery incident. While writing our statement, we were told by the officer that they were aware that the school was a heaven for criminals but that we shouldn’t try to implicate anybody. According to him, this step is for our own safety as they were not able to guarantee our safety. Oh, how the influential get away with evil under our watch. The NYSC on their part made us to list all that was stolen from us with the belief that something would be done about it. This promise was left unfulfilled till we passed out. After this life threatening incident, we were pulled out from the school which we hitherto refused to serve in and transferred to
other schools .School was the only industry in this local government, so we weren’t expecting any thing else. After two and half months of unsolicited leave we returned to our new P.P.As and things were not far better but we managed till we passed out.

Now to the real reason I took out time to put up this write-up, two of my very good friends just called me that they have been mobilized.One for Kebbi State and the other for Gombe state and I couldn’t stop thinking whether it is worth it serving at all. I remembered my friend Anslem Nkwazema that was butchered and killed in Giade Bauchi by Northern youths after the 2011 presidential election. I remembered all other Corp members that were killed during the election. Some journalist document them to be ten in number, some 25 and the last time I checked the number has risen to 28.Oh my God, all in the name of serving a country that only safeguards its citizen after an attack and never before an attack. I know that the joy of Service year is greatest before entering the camp and to some continue throughout service year but for some immediately after camp the joy evaporates. The story of the Corp Members that were killed aftermath the general election came to fore because of the riot that accompanied it. Think about it, had it been we were killed in Kogi during the robbery incident do you think a National Daily will carry the story? So many Corp Members have lost their life during service year especially in the Northern part of Nigeria without receiving any national attention. When I remember all these, I weep for 9ja.I pray for all Batch B 2011 Corp members posted to the North for their safety and general welfare. We know how harsh the weather out there can be. Now with the inception of this ill wind that blows no one any good called Boko Haram. It is even more risky for any one serving in the North. Nobody knows who their target will be as they have no pattern of operation. They can bomb without any provocation. Sometimes I cry on how heartless some people can be, by hiding under some unhealthy practice to send people to war fronts. I was mad when I heard that Corp Members were still sent to Borno state.As we all know no week passes by without series of bomb blasts in different locations in Maiduguri

Children of “Mr. Nobody” as they normally say it were sent there and their own children will be sent to the south. I know that the seed of nationhood will continue to be watered by the blood of patriots but if those patriots are coming from a section of the country then something is wrong somewhere.
God save my friends and all on National service and may them experience SAFETY as they serve their fatherland. A thing of joy is good but the joy when perfected brings fulfillment and contentment and may this joy not turn to grief oh Lord.

God save CORP MEMBERS!
God save NYSC
God save NIGERIA

After this thoughts I couldn’t stop shouting DAMN!DAMN!!DAMN!!!