A devastating tragedy struck on the way to the NYSC orientation camp in Gombe State as 16 Prospective Corps Members (PCMs) lost their lives in a fatal road accident.
According to reports, the victims were all graduates of Adeyemi Federal University of Education (AFUED) in Ondo State, travelling together for the commencement of their national service.
Two other students who were on the same trip survived the crash but are currently in critical condition at the hospital, fighting for their lives.
They were travelling in an 18‑seater bus when the crash occurred. Eyewitnesses said the accident was catastrophic, leaving two survirors fatally wounded.
Emergency responders recovered the bodies and evacuated the injured to a local medical facility.
As of press time, no formal statement has been issued by the NYSC Management. Authorities, including the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), were leading the investigation into the cause of the crash.
The incident has reignited national concerns over road safety, especially for young graduates mobilised to distant place of primary assignment (PPA) by NYSC.
On social media and across university communities, there were growing calls for stronger travel safety protocols and stricter oversight of vehicles used to transport prospective corps members. Some have even urged a rethink of how NYSC deployment is handled, suggesting that mobilisation procedures should prioritise reducing long, risky journeys.
(Leadership)