The Coordinator of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Ogun State, Mrs. Olayinka Nasamu, has denied allegations that the agency was involved in the death of a student, Pelumi David Idowu, who was killed by a hit-and-run driver last week.
According to Nasamu, the agency knows nothing about the incident, which occurred in front of the NYSC Orientation Camp along Sagamu-Ikenne road on Monday last week.
The driver, who is yet to be identified, reportedly hit the motorcyclist carrying Idowu from behind, killing both the student and the motorcyclist on the spot.
Students in Ogun State, under the auspices of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) and the National Association of Ogun State Students (NAOSS), had on Tuesday protested the death of the student, alleging a cover-up by the state coordinator of NYSC.
The students, who took their protest to the Ogun State Police Command, alleged that the driver of the car was one Ojo Aina, an NYSC official who had run into the Orientation camp after the incident to avoid being caught.
However, addressing journalists in her office on Wednesday, Nasamu described the allegations as baseless, unfounded, and a figment of the imagination of the students’ bodies.
She commiserated with the family of the deceased and the Students Union Government of the Polytechnic, stating that as a mother and head of a federal government agency that prioritizes the security and development of Nigerian youth, she could not have supported anything to obstruct the path of justice.
Nasamu disclosed that reports from security agencies, including the Department of State Service (DSS) and the police, have cleared the NYSC of any wrongdoing, stating explicitly that the agency knew nothing about the incident.
She added that the management of the Polytechnic, led by the Rector and the Students Union President, had visited her office to apologize for the wrong accusation.
The Coordinator explained that the student body of the Polytechnic had also distanced itself from the group responsible for staging the protest at the Ogun Police headquarters on Tuesday and had issued a statement to distance themselves from the “less noble act.”
She clarified that Ojo Aina, the staff member accused by the students, was only called upon after the accident occurred and had driven his car to the gate from inside the camp to attend to the incident, but was mistakenly identified as the driver of the car that killed the deceased.
Nasamu reiterated that the NYSC is a federal government agency that prioritizes the security and development of Nigerian youth and would not engage in any activity that would obstruct the path of justice.
She called on the students and the general public to disregard the allegations and allow the security agencies to investigate the incident and bring the perpetrator to justice.
She said “First and foremost, I want to extend my condolences, on behalf of the NYSC as a responsible organisation and myself as a mother, to the families of the victims affected by this unfortunate incident.
“May they find strength and comfort in this difficult time. We also condole with the Student Union Government (SUG) and the entire Gateway Polytechnic community.
“After a thorough investigation conducted by the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police Force in Ogun State, I am pleased to inform you that the NYSC has been cleared of any wrongdoing in this matter.”
Similarly, she pointed out that the Student Union President, Rector, and Dean of Student Affairs of Gateway Polytechnic have acknowledged the mistake and have formally apologized for the wrongful accusations made against the NYSC.
“They have committed to issuing a public rejoinder to address and correct the damaging story circulating in the media space.
“Furthermore, the student body of Gateway Polytechnic has distanced itself from the group responsible for staging the protest at the Ogun State Police Headquarters yesterday morning.
“We have the official reports from the DSS and the press release from the Student Union President for your reference,”Nasamu averred.
