Osinbajo Mourns Nine Corps Members

Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja

Acting President Yemi Osinbajo last night said he was saddened by the tragic drowning of nine National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members in River Mayo-Selbe in Gashaka Local Government Area (LGA) of Taraba State last Saturday.

The deceased corps members were among 22 other youth corps members who had gone on a picnic around the river where the incident occurred.

A statement by the acting president’s spokesman, Mr. Laolu Akande, said Osinbajo extended his condolences to the families and relations of the deceased corps members on behalf of himself and the federal government.

According to the statement, Osinbajo lamented that the country had lost some of its talented and productive young people in their prime.

While praying God to console the families of the deceased, Osinbajo condoled with relatives, NYSC and their states of origin. “This terrible occurrence has brought an abrupt end to the lives of these young men and women while they were dutifully engaged in national service.

“The federal government appreciates their service to the country and it is my prayer that God will comfort their families and loved ones, and that we would not witness such a calamity again.

“I would like to express my condolences to the families of the late youth corps members, the NYSC management and the people of Taraba State, where the sorrowful incident occurred, and Edo, Enugu, Delta and Imo States from where the identified victims hailed.”